CANYON LAKE, CA — A 70-year-old Canyon Lake man was arrested Thursday after conducting traffic stops while pretending to be a law enforcement officer, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
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Steven Sawhill was taken into custody on suspicion of impersonating a peace officer, false imprisonment, and vehicle code violations related to possession of emergency lights, the sheriff’s department reported.
Sawhill was allegedly conducting traffic stops in Canyon Lake while driving a white Ford Crown Victoria sedan outfitted with exterior emergency lights. Video surveillance showed him flashing a badge with the words “Agent” and “California,” according to the sheriff’s department.
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The words “Substance Abuse Response Unit” and “Family Crisis Response Services” were also on the badge.
The department reported that deputies tracked down the car and Sawhill — a badge and other fraudulent identification cards were allegedly found in his possession.
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Further details were unavailable.
Anyone with information about the alleged incidents is asked to contact Deputy Stacey at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station: 951-245-3300.
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