Time to be honest with me. Okay. Honesty is Honesty. Honesty is going to go a long way. >> I don't I can't get in more trouble. >> Honesty is going to go a long way. >> I >> Right. >> I I really don't want to get in trouble. I will rip anything out. Why are you crying? >> For months, officers have kept an eye on this teen's suspicious looking car. A near perfect fake squad vehicle that's fooled plenty. But tonight, things take a sharp turn when he's finally caught in the act. And there's no way out this time. >> Why are you crying? My life's been lately and don't know every every odd. >> Around 12:43 a.m. on June 1st, 20125, an Oaklair police officer received a report from a caller who claimed a squad car with 50 written on the side had switched on its red and blue lights to make a U-turn in an area in Oaklair, Wisconsin. >> Whose car is this? >> Mine. >> Your car? >> Yeah. >> Talk to me. >> This thing got red and blues on it? >> No, they're all disconnected. Okay. >> Every time I be uh private property, they're all disconnected. >> Okay. So, how come they were on back there? >> I don't know. I can't. >> Can I look at it? Go for it. Is that cool? >> Everything's dispatched. All I have is this. Even if I >> What if you turn Can you turn the car on for me? >> Do you do all this yourself? >> Yeah. >> Do you buy this thing like as a squad car? You just did it all? >> Yeah. What's the deal with that, man? >> Uh, giggles. >> Yeah. Are you able to turn the car on? >> Yeah, as I said. Yeah, I connected them again, but Well, yeah, I can't I can't do anything. >> What if you flip that lever? >> That I don't want to do cuz I reconnected everything. >> When did you When did you reconnect it? >> Uh, like a little bit ago. I still have like the loose screws. Just to show what happens. What happens if you turn that? >> That I don't want to do. >> Why? >> Cuz then it will. >> Okay. So, why would you say that it wasn't connected that you can't? because it's on property and all of a sudden it is. >> I only connected it for these guys because they all want to look out. >> For this responding officer, neither the 2022 Ford Explorer nor its driver, 19-year-old Gage, is a stranger as he has seen them repeatedly over the past month, often on weekend nights when the vehicle appears to be patrolling areas. >> So, everyone come up to me and ask me about it. So, then I reconnected them, showed them and I showed them the ambers, which is this which is my button right here. which is just the these will blink white and then the the amber thing will go. >> So I don't I don't with the switches. >> Can you just flip it for me once? >> I can't do it on public property >> because it'll >> it'll go red and blue, but I don't want to do it I don't want to do it on public property. >> Okay. >> Well, if you plugged it in to show these guys you're parked on the road. >> Well, I didn't I didn't. >> Yeah, but I never would do the red and blue on the road. >> You just said that you plugged it in to show them. >> Show them. But like my ax, if I press ox, it's just the amber and flashing the light cuz that's usually what I did when I help the people on the roadside. >> Okay. You got an ID on you? I can take a look at you want my insurance, too? >> No, that's all right. So, we have cameras up and down this entire all of Water Street. I'm not going to see you make a U-turn and turn those lights on. >> I don't remember turning them on. I don't remember turning them on. >> You don't remember? >> If I did, I cannot see if I if I did accidentally bump it. But >> I am being honest. I don't remember hitting it at all. >> What? >> I don't remember hitting it at all cuz I know better than to do it on the public at all. Cuz I I don't do it on public. I only do it on private property. I don't do anything to impersonate. I don't try anything. I know my limits. I try my best not to do anything. As Gage piles on one lie after another, realizing that his ass is probably screwed, the officer is well aware that the vehicle's near perfect resemblance to a real squad car has already raised concerns with police departments in Oaklair and Minneapolis. It even prompted the Monomony Police Department to issue a public warning on social media letting citizens know it wasn't one of their vehicles. >> So, why are people calling saying that you turned them on when you made a U-turn? I have red and blue lights to make a U-turn. >> I did a U-turn to cuz we're going to park on the right side, but I don't remember doing the red and blue. >> Okay, I'm going to be completely honest with you. Okay, people are calling saying you did a U-turn. Red and Blues. Okay, I come up here. You say it's disconnected. They don't even work. I was like, "Okay, can I see?" You're like, "Oh, I I just plugged them back in to show these guys, >> right?" Which you say then that you never do this on a on a public road, but yet you're on a public road and you plugged it in to show these guys while you're on a public road. >> Not the red and blue. Okay, this this doesn't make sense. >> Be completely straightforward if you super serious. >> I am in a squad car every day. >> I know that you'd know whether or not you flipped that switch. >> I know. I don't remember flipping the switch. I might have accidentally bumped it, but I didn't know until these guys >> You might have accidentally bumped it or you did accidentally bump it. >> I don't know. >> But they said that they seen the red and blue, but I don't remember. >> These guys said they saw it. Well, one of them, >> but I don't I don't remember hitting it at all cuz I know better than do that. I know that's a huge trouble. >> Okay. >> And I can disconnect everything. >> Which which guy saw the red and blues? >> Uh two. >> The black t-shirt guy. >> Yeah. >> Okay. When did he say that? >> Uh when we were over there, I think >> over where like down >> down >> by fifth. >> Uh >> by the lights. of uh that taco place, the burrito place. Okay, I really don't want to get in trouble. I will rip anything out. >> While Gage keeps changing his story, the witness who first alerted police has every detail lined up. >> What's up, man? >> I was I was the initial for the >> You aware of the guy that called? >> Yep. Yep. He was he was on the right side next to Brito Cali, you know, shut off his car and I walked over the street to uh bio looked outside. He initiated light back lights, red and blue, front lights, red and blue >> on the on the top light bar. >> Yep. Yep. Top light bar inside car, outside car on the bumper. And then >> this front bumper too. >> Yep. >> Red and blues. >> Yep. Front bumper holding uni. um right in front of bio >> on the road. >> Yep. >> So he was going that westbound initially. >> Yeah. So uh so he he was facing westbound uh sitting at Cali. >> Mhm. >> Had he had the trunk open, you know, shut off his car cuz you know it's a former law enforcement car and he's got the the cage and his stuff. And then I left, closed the trunk, pulling turn from westbound to eastbound, initiated his uh the emergency lights. >> Mhm. >> But he's not authorized to do that. So red, red and blue, turn around, pull over on the uh side here. >> Were was it just while he did the U-turn? >> So were were they just on when he did the U-turn and he turned them back when he came back around? >> Yeah. So he he initiated his emerge lights. He He doesn't have authorization in He is emerge lights, but top top and bottom top and bottom insits is a U-turn. Jumped in front of pile and stopped after plow after a couple minutes. >> Oh, they were on for a little while. >> They were on for a little while. Yeah. >> It was It was on for enough to initiate U-turn. >> Were they solid on or were they like like mine flashing? >> They're They're like yours flashing, but it was a more aggressive flash. >> Faster. He's faster. >> Yes. >> Are you serious? >> No. >> Um I feel like >> there are a crowd of people around seen him. >> Yes. >> Let's go. >> Um if I get a piece of paper, would you write a form real quick? Just be telling me what >> you saw doing that? >> Yes. Hold on. >> Would it be uh based on like your observation of it, do you think it's possible he just accidentally turned it on and then turned it back off? >> No. >> Like he was clearly aware of that they were on. >> 100%. >> Okay. With solid proof against him this time, Gage's excuses start to fall apart as the officer calls him out. >> All right, man. Time to be honest with me. Okay. Honesty is honesty. Honesty is going to go a long way. >> Dude, I don't I can't get in more trouble. >> Honesty is going to go a long way. >> I I accidentally bumped the switch, but I don't remember seeing it at all. And yeah, I had it connected to that little point for to show the guys that >> I still don't think you're being completely honest with me cuz I I I have comm center who has cameras on this entire street that watch the camera. So without me telling So be completely honest with this is your last chance I'm going to get. >> I have only I didn't mean to bump it. I was with the guy with the cargo pants. I must have accidentally bumped it cuz I know better than do this especially in this big of a public area. I'm not that stupid. I accidentally bumped it. I was with everyone. How long were they on? >> I don't even know. Uh, >> don't say don't say window cuz I have lights. I know. I didn't see them. >> How long from the time you bumped it >> or I didn't see them at all cuz it was only the rear cuz when I when I went up I am. I swear to God. So I was there. We were My buddy Vincent was next. >> My buddy Vincent was right next to us. I thought we were going to turn around and have us all park on the other side cuz there was no space for it to three of us. So I said we should just turn around, park on the long the longer stretch >> and then we were mid turn and somewhere between there I must have bumped the switch and then I parked up. I turned it off. I got out. Someone said, "Did you hit your lights?" And I'm like, "Well, no, I didn't see that." My buddy on like took a quick video, but then >> I told them to delete it cuz I'm like I didn't want to get in trouble. >> But which buddy is he here? >> No. But then said that I didn't know I turned my lights on. I went right back into my car and I seen it was on bump the switch one which was just the rear. And then I just started freaking out. I didn't know what to do. So then I was just like I wanted to go for a drive. So then we went for a drive and I didn't I know damn well I was probably going to get in trouble. So when I went for a drive I didn't >> I didn't mean to switch do it at all. >> Just hang out in the car for me for another minute. Okay. >> This is actually a law enforcement memorial license plate. The vehicle also has lots of badges, flags, squad numbers, and emergency call 911 stickers that make it look just like a real squad car. >> Who saw the red and blues on? >> We ain't seen nothing over here. None of us. >> Okay, you guys all going to stick with that story? Is anyone going to talk to me? Okay, fair enough. I don't need you guys to tell me anything. >> So, you changed your story a handful of times. >> I tell the last one was the truth. >> I I think they were on for probably a little bit longer than >> what you're thinking. >> Here's the hole. So, we were parked up. I went in, got food. >> We went at where? >> Uh, the burrito place. Okay. >> So, we went in, got food, brought it out. Everyone kept on questioning about the car. We were had the trunk open. We were there talking for a while and then I re-engaged everything to show people like the interior lights and whatnot. So, then my buddy Vincent kept on coming around. He kept on raving his car really loud. So, we all got kind of nervous. cuz the cops were also like circling. So Vincent, my buddy that has a retired one also pulled up. He was alongside of us and I thought you I said to everyone that we just turn around and go to the main stretch since there wasn't enough room for all of us. So we I started to turn. I had all my windows up at the time. I went to turn and turn around and I don't know if it was when I went to flip around to look if there was someone behind me that I had my Dr. Pepper here. So I don't know if it bumped the switch over. So it went over one after the fact I parked up and looked. I felt the switch and I pushed it over. So it was my just the rears that were on. I didn't think I didn't know until I looked at one of my the people that were there looking and recording and I just freaked out. >> You could attach it and run the arm. >> So how long were they on? >> Uh >> cuz you left the rears on. >> Um I don't know. Well, it was probably as soon as I started to turn, they turned on. Soon as I started to turn around >> and then soon as I turned the car off, they should have turned off. >> So, how long was that? You said you you left you left them on people. >> All right, man. Hang tight for me. I got to look into some statutes. >> Sure. >> He's super nervous. Um, you got that in? >> Yeah. >> Appreciate it. And uh, how long did you say it? Like, if you had to guess, how long were they on? >> Less less than uh about a minute. Less than about a minute. >> Okay. I appreciate it, man. If I have any questions, I'll give you a call. >> As the first officer looks up the statutes, Gage starts breaking down. >> Why are you crying? >> Why? My life's been lately and I don't know. >> Every every odds is just going my mom got arrested the other night. We found out that Sure. >> And then I didn't even mean to do this. I didn't Everything's just for show and I know better than the lights on the public road. I didn't even mean to. I had so many people ask me about it and then I had to watch out for everyone cuz everyone was surrounded by my car. So I was looking I was doing a U-turn to go around and park. >> I didn't pay attention and I wasn't paying attention behind me and my accidentally hit my switch over. >> Mhm. >> I didn't know that until I parked up and then someone showed me off their phone and I seen that the lights were on. I'm like did you have a recent picture video of me or something? Sure. But then I noticed I freaked out. So then I went with my buddies to go for a spin around walk cuz I >> sure >> I was scared cuz I know damn well they're noticeable. >> Yeah. >> I don't >> Why is that? >> Cuz I didn't for this to happen. >> Yeah. >> And life's not going fast and >> Yeah. >> I can't be anywhere near my house otherwise. >> Why is that? add drama and >> so people don't like him because he pulls over people for white tires. >> Yeah. >> So every truck person >> is pulled over by him. I want to be a cop. And I'm pretty sure this is going to affect it a lot cuz I don't try to do any of this. I just >> I just smiles on people's faces cuz this vehicle's car >> not me. >> Yeah. >> And I only have the lights. So that means just like when people want to take pictures of cops, we all go back to my house and I do it in my driveway. I don't >> Mhm. >> That's not true, though. Gage has often flexed his car in public places. In just one day before this incident on May 31st, police got a report about a fake squad car speeding around, driving wildly, and pretending to check license plates. The description match Gage's car quite closely. I'll tear apart all the wires right in front of you guys. I don't >> I'm sorry for wasting your guys' time, too. >> Real good >> cuz the guy that doing the reported asked about my cartoon had told him about it somewhat. A little brief. >> Yeah. How long have you had it? >> October. >> Uh 24. >> And then I just did all the add-ons for and giggles for sure. So I went to the Apple meets just kind of places around Wisconsin. What kind of needs? >> Uh there was one for cancer up in Apple. >> Okay. >> And then here I helped Dawson, but that one real quick. >> Sure. >> With Carson Park. >> Okay. Just normal car meets and stuff like that then. >> And if you guys never want to see this car, you're going to I totally understand. I've had four of these so far. >> Four. >> I make the five. >> Oh, gotcha. >> I was going to offer you the Oclair Police Department of my car. Yeah, >> cuz I see a while ago you guys crashed three of them or something. >> Yeah, we lost a few of them. >> So, I'm like, okay, I might as well give them a little beater. >> Yeah, >> cuz I wouldn't mind giving away to little police department. >> Sure. >> This is all fine. >> Yep. >> And I don't intend to personally. >> Sure. >> It's just all ridiculous. >> Yep. >> Cuz I mean, I've never done stuff. This will be the first time in Wisconsin. The last one I my buddy took my keys and the Richmond turned it into a town ordinance. Gotcha. >> They were going to put it in person until I showed told them that I wasn't the one driving. If you just snatched my keys. >> Mhm. >> I just deal with the stress. I think I paid over 10 grand in tickets. >> Why is that? >> Uh I did not learn my lesson while operating suspended. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that'll do her. No, I did not. But uh >> there's nine of them. >> That'll do it. >> It's not It's not the best. >> Nope. >> And I don't I just don't I just try to just keep on low. Yeah, >> I dig this. >> Yeah. So, you're kind of contradicting yourself there, aren't you? >> I mean, I like being known >> cuz at the same time, I don't drink smoker vape. >> Yep. >> So, I like to have when the cop knows it's me. >> Sure. >> Not to like just creep up. >> Yeah. >> And I was going to turn this car into a memorial, like rip the decals off and then keep the doors white, but have all town cops, state troopers, all sign the white and then just keep it as like a memorial. >> Sure. It just didn't think it was my stupid decision to get cuz I was going to get a kill switch, but >> yeah, >> I haven't had the time. I work almost 60, 70 hours a week. >> Sure. >> Gage keeps unloading for a few more minutes, but sharing records of past incidents or tossing out some kind donations to the department isn't exactly going to save him here. >> Probably go misdemeanor then. >> I think his hair. >> Yeah, his car looks identical to ours. and he activated his emergency lights >> to conduct the action that we would normally use our emergency lights for. >> Yeah. If I give you my phone inside of it, >> take pictures of it. >> Yeah. >> I'm selling this for that. >> Still I don't know if I'm This dude's supposed to buy it. >> Where'd you get this one from? >> Maple Grove. I partner up with CMI. So I >> What's CMI? >> Uh Chicago Motorsports Corporations. Okay. So CMI is uh part of an organization that we buy retired top cars. >> Okay. >> And then we auction them off. >> Sure. So this was a retired one then. >> We got this one from this. >> Okay. When you got it, was it like stripped or did >> kind of >> still have a little bit left? >> You had a lot. >> Yeah. >> Had to read a lot of things. >> Sure. >> Wiring. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I don't know how you have your upfitter. >> Yeah. >> I talked to one of the troopers about it. says I'm boring, but he offered me a job in Madison, I think, where they upit theirs. >> Sure. >> So, they sent me an one of the troopers that also showed up sent me an email about being up there. >> Yeah. >> But I'm federal city. >> Okay. >> I don't know about sound. >> Sure. >> Especially with your guys' cool flashes. >> Right now, I have a weird horn that I found out. >> Interesting. >> So, I have three horns. >> Okay. >> So, the I have the regular a horn. >> Yep. I have my regular horn, but when I press these two together, my bad. When I press these two together, it will activate a rumbler. >> Really? >> I figured that out in a really weird way cuz we were all at a car and I was like, "Oh, I wonder what happens if I just press these two together." >> Mhm. >> And then I thought I totally something up, >> but then my buddy told me it was a rumbler and I wanted to figure out how to do that cuz it sounds like New York City is >> Gotcha. As Gage begins flaunting his car modifications, the officer's simple request snaps him back to reality. >> Then I have my old one with me. >> Okay. >> That one I got in trouble with in Richmond. >> Where you got the DC? >> Uh yeah. >> Ticket. >> And then here like everyone would like to take. >> No Red and Blues or I don't know what he's doing. He's just buying. Huh. >> And then my Amos. My buddies is this one. He has the same Wi-Fi on. We have the same rap. >> Sure. I like the all black look. >> Wow. >> That's cool. >> Mean, am I getting tickets? >> I don't know. I didn't talk to him about that. >> Would you care if I take a couple pictures of the inside? >> Go for it. >> Did the cage come with it or did you >> also get this doesn't go against me? >> Here. You don't have a rack in there? >> No. >> Yeah. Get one of those. >> They're expensive. >> Yeah, I believe that. It's going to go against me, but that >> it's already on body camera. >> Can I take a picture of the cage? Do you have anything in the back as far as like storage or anything? >> Yeah. >> Oh, nice. >> Bunch of my cleaning supplies. >> Sure. >> Like rags, all that. >> Yeah. >> And tools to help. Yeah. >> Don't mind the rotor. I need new rotors. >> Interesting. >> Another CMI. >> Sure. >> It's cool. for fun. >> As the incident wraps up, the officers have plenty to talk over before handing the documents to Gage. >> You going to take this car? Evidence of the crime. It's straight to a toz. >> Do I want to or >> I asked if you were going to What's that >> for the misdemeanor? Probably not. If you went with the felony, I would have >> cuz it fits the statute for uh forfeite um perfectly for felony charges cuz it's used in the commission of it. Um so you could just seize it as evidence andor for Caesar for forfeite. Um but >> I think >> if he did misdemeanor then I think that's fine. >> I think if I mean if he tries to pull somebody over that's a different story. >> Yeah. I mean, I saw him in my personal car one time with his yellow light following a car. >> Mhm. >> Oh, no. 100%. This dude's like, "Yeah." >> Yeah. So, I mean, if he when he breaks that threshold, then absolutely. But >> for a U-turn, >> y >> tickets, >> I think. So, >> how many? >> I don't know, but at least one. >> Is that what he said? >> I just saw him printing it out. >> Or hope it's a warning. >> I don't think it was a warning. I hope it's just something I can just pay off >> and not ignore like your operating effort suspension ones. >> God, that one I had to get to work somehow. >> Yeah, that's fair. I can respect that. >> I think I went through 10 different vehicles then. >> Yeah, >> that it was. And they would sit outside my work cuz they know me. They'd sit outside my work and wait for me and then I'd call them up my buddies and tell them to come get my car and like drive it a little bit out of town. >> Oh, it was just a handful. Was that New Richmond then? >> Yeah, New Richmond caught on to it too because they would wait outside of like the outskirts. >> Yeah. >> I'm like, God, >> cuz I accidentally shined them with the top light bar on this with the light. >> Cop sat there for a second. Had to like redo his eyes >> and I'm like, >> "Yeah, >> they're dead since then." >> Cuz I didn't see him until I turned that light bar on till I seen the visor lights. >> Yeah. When we went down the sidewalk, my buddy's scooter wasn't even working. >> Yeah. >> And then Yeah. >> All right, man. I'm going to give you your ID back. Okay. >> So, >> like I said, I'm super sorry for causing a bunch of I didn't mean to do everything. I Yeah, it's my fault. I responsibility. >> You You also told me that you had them left them on for 20 seconds to show people. >> Oh, I did not leave them on for 20 seconds. That you will see if you guys look at the camera footage. I did not. I've as soon as I parked up, I turned the car off. Matt, >> here's the deal, man. Okay, so you're getting charged with impersonating a police officer. Okay, it's a misdemeanor. So, you have a court date, June 10th at 11:00 a.m. It's a mandatory court date, so you have to show up otherwise there'll be a warrant. Okay, they want you there 2 hours early for fingerprints and photos. There's instructions on that on the bottom. There's also a citation in there for the blue lights. Um, same court date and time on that as well, so it all get addressed there. So, you got any questions for me? >> No. Okay, keep the lights off. >> I know. I did. I swear to God. >> Well, you're lying. You started lying to me from the start. >> Well, here's the story again if you want. >> I don't need it again. >> I know. >> All right. You got any questions for me? >> Um Oh, I don't know. >> All right, man. >> Where do I go? That courthouse up there? >> Yeah, it's it's on there. All right, man. That's all I got for you. All right. >> Gage was charged with felony impersonating a peace officer and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He was eventually released on a $2,000 signature bond with conditions not to drive without a valid driver's license, not to drive the vehicle described in the complaint, or vehicles that look like law enforcement vehicles, and not to possess firearms or fake firearms.