Fake Cop Jailed After Illegal Traffic Stop: Sheriff

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — An accused fake cop got to see the inside of a real jail Wednesday afternoon after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say his attempt to pull over a motorist didn’t work out so well for him.

The incident that led to John William Dawson’s Wednesday arrest took place around 4:17 p.m. June 19. Deputies say Dawson, 49, was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Impala with a Fraternal Order of Police tag on it. He was headed westbound on State Road 54 in Lutz at that time, following another vehicle in the westbound direction.

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Once in the Land O’ Lakes area, deputies say Dawson activated “emergency-type lights” that had been installed on his dashboard. He then began flashing his Impala’s headlights at the vehicle in front of him, an arrest report stated. Those headlights, the report noted, “have a blue tint.”

The victim pulled over, but recorded the exchange on a cellphone camera, the report said. Dawson is accused of getting out of his car and putting a necklace that contained “what appeared to be a law enforcement badge, around his neck,” the report said. He then proceeded to curse at the victim and told him to “slow down.” He also claimed to be on a "call," the report said.

After threatening the victim with arrest if he encountered him again, deputies say Dawson told the man to leave immediately. He evidently did, but notified authorities.

Deputies caught up with Dawson on Wednesday. Following his arrest, the Largo man told deputies he saw the victim “driving erratically,” so he decided to make the traffic stop, the report said. He also admitted to putting a badge around his neck, but said he threw it away later, the report added.

Dawson was charged with one count of impersonating a law enforcement officer, the report said. A handwritten addition at the bottom of the typed arrest report noted that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that Dawson "is not a certified law enforcement officer."

"I urge everyone, if they feel uncomfortable with a situation similar to this, to proceed safely to a well-lit area and call 911,” Sheriff Chris Nocco said in announcing Dawson’s arrest. “I cannot stress this safety message enough and I am thankful this case was resolved with an arrest."

The sheriff’s office posted the victim’s cellphone video on its Facebook page. Due to graphic language, Patch is not posting it. It can be viewed here.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office