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Is it a loaded firearm that you have with you, Mr. Correct? >> So, you're not under arrest right now? >> Yes, sir. >> Wow. Probably not the best idea to be wearing a vest, armed possible criminal, and first nation of a police officer. I'm a retired Baltimore City. >> Okay. 27 years. >> He's a convicted felon. He wouldn't be retiring four years ago. >> I'm I'm speechless. When a police officer in Brimton, Washington, arrives to a call and finds a man dressed as a law enforcement officer already on the scene, things quickly take a turn for the bizarre. Suspicious that the man may be impersonating a police officer, authorities soon discover that while he doesn't have any legitimate police credentials, he does have a record. >> Uh, criminal impersonation, uh, the first degree. That's a felony. >> Yes. >> What? M and all right. Okay. >> The following is based on official police records. Please note that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. On the evening of September 4th, 2025, an officer with the Breton Police Department responds to a call that a fire has been set in a parking garage across from the Salvation Army. As he arrives, a Ford Explorer similar to an unmarked police vehicle pulls in behind him. The vehicle has blue interior emergency lights on. Not recognizing the man in the vehicle as fellow law enforcement, the officer follows him over to the Salvation Army parking lot. >> Were you on the phone with him? >> They asked us to come outside. I thought it was for you. >> Who has to come outside? >> I don't know. He's on the phone with him. >> No, I thought I was pulled over because I thought you guys needed help with that. >> Oh, no. No. We thought No, I don't I'm confused right now, man. It's been my This is my first day back in a while. So, >> I thought you were like one of our detectives at >> I I know some of the guys um work with the task force. >> The man is working as security for the Salvation Army hired by Steven Group International. However, much of the gear he wears, including a silver police badge that reads detective, a ballistic vest, and a duty belt, indicate that he's in law enforcement. The man identifies himself just as Scalleta and claims he previously worked with the Thirstston Sheriff's Office, but transferred to the Edmonds Police Department where he says he's been a detective for the past 2 years. >> I know a lot of detectives from Edmonds >> uh from the gang network and stuff like that. Uh the anti-narcotics training on base every year. Um, >> yeah, >> it was I started with robbery and now with the gang intelligence. >> Dang, it's pretty hardcore. >> The officer soon leaves Scalleta to his security guard duties, but something about the strange interaction doesn't sit quite right. He makes a report and the next morning on September 5th, a different Breton officer heads to the Salvation Army just as Scalleta is finishing his overnight shift. >> So, you work for Edmonds P? >> I do. Okay. >> Yeah. And this is a part-time gig. >> Got you. Did you have your commission card with you? >> Yeah. Give me a minute. >> No, didn't find it. >> Sorry. No, he's he's going to it's in my other bag. >> Oh, okay. >> It's uh he's grabbing it now. >> Okay. How long have you been working for the Salvation Army? >> Sorry. >> How long have you been working off duty for the Salvation Army? >> Uh uh I'm I'm here almost every other week. >> Every other week? >> Yeah. Uh and then I also work down at the uh KRM. >> Okay. And what's your full name? Um, Mezi Scalleta. >> As Scalleta's coworker heads inside to find his bag and supposedly his commission card, another Breton officer arrives. >> Is it a loaded firearm that you have with you, Mr. Scalleta? >> Correct. >> Okay. Can you put your hands on the car, please? >> I'm not familiar with the retention of this holster. Just keep your hands right there. >> Can we not do this in front of every I mean, really? >> Yeah. You're doing just fine keeping approp. >> The officer removes Scalleta's firearm and finds that the magazine is empty. >> So, you're not under arrest right now? >> Yes, sir. >> Wow. >> Can you call my >> Yeah, we can take care of all that. >> We can take care of all we can make all the phone calls. It needs to be double. >> All right. >> More Breton officers arrive just as Scalleta's coworker reappears with his bag. So >> his credentials. >> Okay. In the front. What agents did you take with? >> Edmonds. >> You're with Edmonds. >> Edmonds. Yes. >> Do you understand being detainer? >> I I I understand the whole process. Yes, I do. Okay. Okay. >> The officers check the bag but fail to find a commission card or any law enforcement credentials. They do however find an empty badge holder similar to the kind plane clothes officers wear. This is only the beginning of their unsettling discoveries. So, first off, if you are a commissioned police officer in this state, you'll be taken out of cuffs and I will formally apologize. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, no problem. >> All right. You're uniformed and armed when we came across. That's an accurate statement. >> So, the concern is the concern is especially because we weren't given notification, right? >> I'm not operating. I'm not doing I'm not working. I'm not >> Well, here's here's the problem. Well, it's messy, right? >> Correct. >> Here's the problem is that you're leaving. Even if you're leaving Salvation Army, this is the number one crime hot spot in the entire city for us. >> I I know this. >> Let me I'm a retired Baltimore City. >> Okay. >> 27 years I come out here. You know what I mean? I didn't let me talk. I'm sorry. >> Well Well, I don't I I think we're not we're getting our wires crossed a little bit because what I'm trying to get you to understand is I understand that you're just leaving if if you're off duty. But if you know that this is the highest crime area, right? If you know this is the highest crime area in the city and you know that that's likely to you your law enforcement experience and we're going to be in the area. Probably not the best idea to be wearing a vest armed going to and from. >> Yeah. >> Cuz it's going to make us think some things up to up to and including possible criminal impersonation of a police officer. >> That's why you're detained. We get all that checked out. And you know what? This might be an error for their bosses and our bosses. >> So we might have called Edmonds last night. >> The sheriff. >> We might have called Edmonds PD last night. >> Yeah. >> Not on the payroll. Say it again. You're not on the payroll or admin PD. >> Is it okay if I if I go through this? >> Yes, please. And then I can. >> While some of the officers continue the search for anything that can verify Scalleta's claims, the others are eager to discuss the bizarre situation among themselves. Little do they know, a troubling revelation has already been uncovered. >> So, I read Casey's report. Apparently they had a little back and forth with Gity and Kirsty where they're like, "Well, he didn't take an act as a police officer." >> Absolutely not. >> Yes. Yes. Yeah, I know. So I was like, "No way. I'm not tolerating this." So I came down looking for him. I pulled up. >> Go ahead. >> I don't know. Um if they put this in the reports, he was involved in like a SWAT incident where he barricaded himself inside and had a whole like threat to like blow the place up. So it's like a bomb threat. He's saying that he retired from Baltimore City Police after doing like 24 years or something. >> He's a convicted felon. He wouldn't be retiring four years ago. >> The man they have detained is not Mezzi Scalleta as he claimed. But 49year-old Michael Scalleta Tits. According to police documents, he was convicted of a false bomb hoax in 2015. >> Yeah, he's going to jail. 100% the right call across the border. Did you see my face once it dawned on me? What was going on? >> Yeah. I I pulled up to ask some questions about him working here because I didn't see him cuz he's parked over here. I think he came around the corner. Is everything good? And I looked at him. I was like, "Holy." >> His eyes are also super super constricted and he's hella jittery. So, I don't know if he's on Sunday. >> With this new information, one of the officers approaches Michael, but his explanation is strange to say the least. Tell me, tell me what happened in 2015 with Baltimore PD. >> The riots are uh >> I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. >> The Yeah. Uh that's I I worked in the uh Eastman prison. >> Mhm. >> They were We all knew what they were going. We We knew what was going on. Um just a matter of time. And we already had we we knew the feds were there. >> Um but you you keep your nose clean. You don't have to worry about uh >> Well, I'm talking about the offense where you were arrested in Baltimore City. >> Me and Yeah. in 2015. >> I was arrested. I wasn't arrested. Never been arrested. >> As Michael protests his innocence, the other officers are keen to check out his vehicle. >> He said he has known Sheriff Sanders for 4 years. >> What the? >> Yep. No, I know. >> Is this guy going to jail? >> Yes. >> What the hell? >> See, he's got You can see he's got the lights mounted in the back, too. >> This is insane. Like, the the shirt is in the plastic. >> His reflective vest is straight from GS. >> Yeah. Look, he's got a firefighter helmet, too. >> Jesus Christ. >> He's ready to do it all. The officer has no idea just how true this statement will turn out to be. >> That's crazy. >> While they can see the reflective vest denoting police on the back, the car holds even more surprises inside. For now, Michael suggests that the reason they can't find his commission card is because it's inside the vehicle. >> I just want to hear from you. Yes or no? Are you giving us consent to search the vehicle? >> Y'all are going to tear my vehicle apart? >> We're going to search the vehicle. All respect. >> We're going to we're going to we're not going to like >> We're done. We're all right. This this We're done. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> You're not going to tear my vehicle up? Uh, no. >> Okay. >> Apply for a search warrant. Do what you got to do. >> Let's remove the gear. >> Let's solve that problem. >> Okay. Michael is wearing a law enforcement style vest, double pistol magazine pouches with what appears to be a magazine in each slot, a baton, multiple sets of handcuffs, and a Motorola APX series radio, which is typically used by law enforcement and fire department personnel. Upon closer inspection of Michael's silver badge, the commander with the Edmonds Police Department called it a Franken badge and stated it had the same general appearance and shape as their badges, but almost all of the specific details on it were wrong. >> This guy has kind of the convincing little >> That's what I was I was like around 50/50. I was like, if this is a mistake cuz it's also seeing the blowback on like Edmonds is going to be chewing on like they did have an offduty guy here and we like jacked one of their guys up. >> With his gear removed, the officers attempt to get an explanation from Michael. >> Are you still talking? >> At this time, I'm going to invoke my rights and remain silent. >> Okay. All right. Fair enough. >> We all know better. >> Fair enough. >> Call that wy law enforcement experience, huh? I'm I'm speechless. >> With Michael secured in the back of the police vehicle, the officers begin collecting information and will be stunned to discover just how far he took his dangerous ruse. His boss, who also works for Steven Group International, soon arrives. He reveals that Michael has been working as a security guard for about two or three months. >> Did he tell you that he was a commission law enforcement officer? >> Not as pronounced. He just said he did work uh he worked with detectives or something about uh like an emergency uh response team of some sort. >> However, according to his boss, there was an incident where Michael allegedly acted as though he was a law enforcement officer. There had been an accident at the entrance of a parking garage. When I went up to look, they were like I hear it's directly that way. I hear this vehicle on the roadway kind of angle it to come forward and he's using flashlight. We're riding people away from the area. Where is he? >> I don't know for sure. Okay. >> Hey, is that my boss right there? >> Yeah. >> Oh, you know. Okay. So, you're you guys are saying All right. This isn't the only time Michael is accused of doing something similar. The officers soon find a man who had been at the Salvation Army the night before and spoke with Michael. >> He's going to have uh patrol of the narcotics department. He's going to be running some of you guys' units. He's been promoted and he's moving up here this way. >> Police reports state that Michael also told the man something to the effect of, "They'll all be working for me." However, this isn't his only outlandish claim. According to one of his ex-coorkers at the Salvation Army, Michael also maintained he was a two-time FBI Academy graduate and a former K-9 sergeant. Along with this, his boss said Michael told him he was a fire inspector and his LinkedIn profile claimed he was a fire lieutenant for 26 years. What the >> officers also call his wife Jean to inform her of the situation. >> I'm so confused right now. Um, >> what part is confusing? >> This whole thing. I mean, I thought that he went to work last night. >> Does he work at Salvation Army? >> What? >> Does he work at the Salvation Army in Breton? >> No. No, he's he's supposed to be in Birmingham Kit. >> Doing what? >> Well, I know he's a reserves police officer. That's what he told me. That's the work he's he's doing. >> Jean claimed to have no idea Michael was a convicted felon. >> Okay. This is in 2015. You're convicted of hoax by false bomb. You were sentenced to four >> four months in prison. >> What? No. No, bro. Uh-uh. Did you get your firearms right restored? >> No. >> So, I'm not doing that. My just adjusting. I'm just kind of I laid back on my seat. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. >> You did not get your firearms rights restored then. >> Sorry. >> You have not. >> Hey, listen. We're We're invoked my rights, man. Uh this is all your investigation. I'm not I'm not trying to be a I'm not Don't Don't take it the wrong way. I just >> The allegations against him would soon intensify as more information comes in. According to witnesses, Michael had been blurring the boundary of his duties as a security guard as recently as last night. A 7-Eleven employee had called for police to trespass someone, and Michael can be seen in the responding officer's body cam footage. Notably, the 7-Eleven isn't on Salvation Army property where Michael was employed, and he wasn't called to help. >> People like me clean and this guy 24 hours is great issue. Who's here? >> No. Who? No. No. Gary official. Gish. >> This guy. >> Who are you asking? Leave. >> I call and this guy 24 hours here in the left. And >> while Michael isn't seen trespassing anyone, he still responded to a police call. >> Are these serious charges or >> two felonies? >> Two felonies. >> Why? What are the two felonies for? So what what I mean I'm just asking if it's okay. I'm not trying to be be >> uh >> whatever. >> Criminal impersonation in the first degree and unlawful possession of firearm in the second. >> Uh criminal impersonation uh the first degree. >> Yes. Correct. >> That's a felony. >> Yes. >> I thought it was a misdemeanor. >> Because the officers suspect him of taking law enforcement action, the accusations against him increase from second to first degree. What they find in his vehicle only solidifies these suspicions. What? >> Yep. >> And all right. Okay. Oh my goodness. >> Scattered throughout his vehicle are multiple patches that read K-9 officer, police, investigator, and surveillance. Authorities discover a black and yellow firefighter helmet, a yellow traffic vest, two ballistic vests, one with armor plates rated for rifle bullets with a star of life patch that reads, "Rub some dirt on it. Everything stops bleeding eventually." The second vest has patches for paramedic and FTO field training officer. They also find a bright yellow jacket with police sewn on the front and back along with a receipt for the patches to be sewn on by a dry cleaner. What's uh >> telling me you've been a cop for 30 years and you don't go on jail anymore? >> Uh well, no, it's different. I hear because like No, I'm asking what are >> you work for ads, right? >> The 7-Eleven incident isn't the only time Michael may have involved himself in police matters. His ex-coorker also shared a video Michael sent her claiming he had responded to a dead on arrival call in Seattle. The video appears to be Michael's body cam footage and shows members of the Seattle Fire Department as well as a dead body. Notably, there aren't any law enforcement officers on the scene yet. >> All right. All right. Let go. Let go. All right. All right. Back away. >> The officer transporting Michael has his own suspicions about what his motivations may be. When was the last time you used? >> I don't use. Why you say that? >> Because I think you're high. >> You think I'm high? >> I think you're high. >> Okay. >> That's your opinion, man. >> As a matter of fact, Mr. Kleta, my theory is that this whole pretend to be a cop thing down in Salvation Army is a opportunity for you to seize drugs from the local transient people. That's what I think. I think that's how they're feeding illegal drugs. >> Yeah. I No. Not never. >> Really easy. >> I I've never made I've never enforced that. I I'm a security. No, never. I've never done anything like that, dude. >> And I get that a lot, right? I had Tourett syndrome, man. >> I got you. >> No matter how adamantly Michael makes his denials about this accusation or the allegation of criminal impersonation, his vehicle would prove to hold a wealth of evidence. Inside, authorities also found an AR-15, emergency items, and tools such as jumper cables, traffic cones, water bottles, latex gloves, and two first aid kits. They also located vehicle impound stickers and a parking ticket book. Zip tie flex cuffs, magazine pouches, handcuff pouches, a police portable radio, pepper spray, a baton, baton pouches, a spring-loaded knife, a drople gun holster attachment, and a badge similar to federal law enforcement badges reading National Concealed Carry Law Enforcement Safety Act retired. Along with being equipped with blue and green emergency lights, a siren, and a loudspeaker, Michael had a radio wired into the car that when turned on, the screen read. According to police documents, authorities suspect he was scanning police radios and responding to calls such as the trespassing at 7-Eleven and the DOA call in Seattle. [Music] it getting riled up. >> Michael Scalletitz was charged with suspected criminal impersonation in the first degree as well as unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Michael is awaiting trial and the case is still ongoing. If you'd like to see select new videos early and help us keep uncovering case files that rarely come to light, you'll find extra footage and unseen details on our Patreon. Channel memberships here on YouTube also include early access to select new

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