You’re behind the wheel of a Tesla on the highway. A pickup truck tailgates you, activates red and blue lights, and orders you to pull over onto the shoulder. One can easily imagine the stress inside. That’s exactly what happened on Thursday morning on the Interstate 17 near Phoenix, Arizona. A motorist impersonated a police officer and stopped an electric sedan. He then contacted the real authorities himself to report the scene.
The incident occurred around 8:29 a.m. on the southbound side of the Interstate 17. The scene unfolded near Dove Valley Road in the northern part of Phoenix. According to early statements from authorities, the driver of a Chevrolet pickup used red and blue lights mounted on the dashboard. He used them to compel the silver Tesla sedan, occupied by a man and a woman, to stop. Strikingly, the person who alerted security services of the stop was none other than the pickup driver. He remained on scene while waiting for officers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The scenario could have been limited to a routine roadside warning, but it quickly escalated into a far broader investigation into this fake officer.
On I-17, a fake police officer confronts the Tesla he just stopped
The troopers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety arrived at the scene. The pickup and the sedan were already halted on the shoulder. The driver of the Chevrolet cooperated and answered questions. He maintained that he was simply doing his duty by stopping a car he believed was speeding. He also claimed the sedan had run multiple red lights. The officers checked his documents and any affiliation with a police agency. They found he had no law enforcement powers and no ties to any agency. This fake police officer was immediately arrested for impersonating a peace officer. This offense is defined by Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2411 as a Class 6 felony; it can be upgraded to Class 4 if other crimes are involved. Additional charges followed, including unlawful restraint and kidnapping, tied to forcing the Tesla occupants to stop and remain on the scene.
Local reports identified the suspect as a man in his 60s from Cave Creek. Some outlets named him as Scott Carl Millage. He was driving an older Chevrolet 2500 pickup in gray or silver. The vehicle was equipped with red and blue lights visible through the windshield. He wore a red polo shirt, dark jeans, and a baseball cap. He told troopers that he had only used his high beams and hand gestures. He said he simply wanted to signal the Tesla to pull over. Investigators then reviewed video captured by the electric car’s cameras. The footage shows the pickup activating police-style lights, directly contradicting the driver’s version. The Arizona Department of Public Safety believes this may not be an isolated incident. The agency is asking anyone stopped by a vehicle like this to come forward. Contact 1-877-4AZ-TIPS or submit an online tip form.
Tesla cameras and DPS guidance: beware of fake roadside stops
In this case, the car’s onboard technology carried real weight. In recent Tesla models, peripheral cameras continuously film the vehicle’s surroundings. They can save footage through an on-board “dashcam” or similar feature. The troopers used this footage to reconstruct what happened. It shows the pickup pulling up behind the Tesla, then triggering the police-style lights and causing the Tesla to pull over. For investigators, having such video makes it easy to verify who did what. It directly undermines the pickup driver’s attempt to minimize the use of his fake lights. Many modern vehicles now offer similar systems, whether front and rear cameras or dedicated recorders.
The case of the Tesla halted on I-17 isn’t likely isolated in the Phoenix area. In the past month, at least three people in Maricopa County have been arrested for impersonating a police officer. Some allegedly attempted to stage fake traffic stops. Studies focused on this crime show that roughly 45% of police impersonations involve stopping a vehicle on a road. In many cases, the impostors flee as soon as the victim calls emergency services. The Arizona Department of Public Safety therefore issues clear guidance. If you doubt a vehicle asking you to pull over, slow down. Turn on your hazard lights. Move toward a well-lit and populated area while calling for help. Keep doors locked and the window only part way open. The officers urge drivers to comply with a stop only after the vehicle is clearly identified as official. The officer’s uniform and badge should be visible and verifiable. On roads where unmarked cars, improvised beacons, and onboard cameras coexist, these reflexes can make all the difference.
