Phony O.C. Cop With Gun, Handcuffs & Fake Badge Arrested: Police

COSTA MESA, CA — A 30-year-old Huntington Beach woman was arrested last week for allegedly impersonating a police officer after she was pulled over in Orange County while driving a cop-type car with police lights and wearing a tactical vest, fake badge and carrying handcuffs, a Taser and a loaded gun, according to authorities.

Costa Mesa Police Department's Gang Unit on the evening of Nov. 1 stopped Michelle Brianna Hughes, who was behind the wheel of a white, four-door, 2016 Chevrolet Impala equipped with a law-enforcement light bar and bearing California-exempt license plates in the area of Harbor Boulevard and Merrimac Way in Costa Mesa, officials said.

When stopped, Hughes allegedly claimed she was a deputy for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, police said.

The suspect also reportedly was in possession of uniforms for various police departments, and law enforcement now is seeking possible Orange County victims, who perhaps had contact with the individual, the agency said.

At the time of her arrest, Hughes allegedly was wearing a tactical vest with a “POLICE” patch, a law-enforcement duty belt complete with handcuffs, a fake badge, a Taser and a loaded, unregistered handgun with a high-capacity magazine, authorities said.

"Hughes is not a law enforcement officer and was in possession of other police uniforms from other law enforcement agencies, as well as other government-exempt license plates," the department said.

She was arrested for suspicion of carrying an unregistered, loaded firearm, being in possession of a high-capacity magazine, and impersonating an officer, and subsequently posted bail and was released from custody, police said.

Costa Mesa police now are hoping to hear from the public who possibly had contact with Hughes as she purportedly impersonated an officer. Anyone with information on the case can contact Detective J. Smith at 714-754-5097.

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