2 Suspected Of Impersonating RivCo Sheriff's Dept. Deputies Were 'Driving Black Police Car'

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A woman suspicious of the manner in which she was pulled over in Lake Elsinore led to the arrest of two people on charges of posing as peace officers in Lake Elsinore, the sheriff's station reported this week.

On Feb. 22, just after 10:45 a.m., deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station arrived at Grand Avenue and Corydon Road, Lake Elsinore, where a victim said two people inside a black Ford Police Interceptor pulled her over.

"(The suspects) drove behind her into a parking lot and activated the red/blue emergency lights and siren, effectively conducting a traffic stop," Sgt. Jarrod Meissen said.

Both the driver and passenger of the police-looking vehicle made contact with the victim and asked her for her identification.

"The victim became suspicious during the interaction, and later reported it to law enforcement," Meissen said.

The investigation by the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team ultimately identified the suspects, Jimenez and Roman.

Juan Jimenez, 53, and Elias Roman, 42, both residents of Lake Elsinore, were identified as the suspects during that investigation.

One week ago, deputies found the black Ford Police Interceptor, which was equipped with red and blue emergency lights and a siren, according to Meissen.

Jimenez was detained without incident at Mission and Corydon in Lake Elsinore. He was being held at the Southwest Detention Center and is slated to appear in court on April 20 at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center to answer pending charges of impersonating a peace officer and false imprisonment.

"During the course of the investigation, deputies served a search warrant at Jimenez's residence and collected evidence items, including badges, multiple police patches, and other police uniform items," Meissen said.

On Tuesday at 2 p.m., deputies located Roman at Wride Street in Lake Elsinore, where he was also taken into custody without incident. He is also being held at the Southwest Detention Center on pending charges of impersonating a peace officer and false imprisonment, and was scheduled to appear in court on May 26 at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.

This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time. The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station is asking anyone who believes they may have been contacted by these suspects to please contact Deputy Olson at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245–3300.