BELLINGHAM - Two teenage boys suspected of impersonating police officers were arrested this week after a real officer spotted them flashing blue and white lights behind unsuspecting drivers, trying to pull them over.
One of the boys, 17, borrowed his mom's 1989 Toyota Camry to do an errand Tuesday night, July 31. He was driving around with two friends, ages 17 and 12, when the two older boys "thought it would be interesting" to see if they could pull people over, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.
So the teen fastened some blue LED lights to the front of his mom's car, near the bumper. He got behind drivers on James Street and started flickering the headlights - making it look kind of like a patrol car's flashing lights, Young said. Two drivers called police after being tricked by the boys. They reported the Camry had sped off after pulling them over.
An officer arrived and saw the boys trying to pull over another car, Young said.
The 17-year-old boys were detained in the 200 block of East Kellogg Road on investigation of impersonating a police officer. Their case was forwarded to juvenile court. The driver also was cited for having passengers in the car - something his intermediate license doesn't allow.
The lights were impounded for evidence.
The younger boy won't be charged, Young said. According to a police report, when the officer asked him if he'd done anything to stop his older friends, he replied: "Nah, they don't listen to me anyway."
None of the boys had a juvenile court record.
Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.
