A Washington man is facing serious charges after police say he dressed up as a law enforcement officer and showed up at real crime scenes, convincing many people — including neighbors and 911 callers — that he was the real deal.
Authorities say 49-year-old Michael A. Scaletta-Teates impersonated a police officer in full uniform, complete with a badge, body armor, and even an unmarked vehicle with flashing blue lights.
Fake Cop Shows Up at Active Scenes
According to the Bremerton Police Department (BPD), located just outside Seattle, Scaletta-Teates first showed up at a trespassing call on Sept. 5, then later responded to a fire in a parking garage. He was dressed in gear labeled “POLICE” and “SWAT”, wore a metal badge from Edmonds Police, and claimed he was an off-duty detective.
At first, officers believed him. One BPD officer was even caught on body camera saying, “I thought you were one of our detectives.”
But as the encounters continued, officers became suspicious — especially since his story started to fall apart under questioning. He claimed he worked with a task force and handled parole and probation cases, but further investigation revealed the truth.
The Truth Comes Out
After a follow-up by real detectives, police discovered that Scaletta-Teates was not a police officer at all — he was actually an unarmed private security guard hired to work at a nearby Salvation Army.
Police said that he had been acting like a cop around downtown, showing up to emergency situations, interacting with people as if he had authority, and even scaring residents with aggressive behavior.
One witness told officers, “He was intimidating last night, he told my friends to shut up and keep walking.”
Another neighbor admitted, “Even my friends always thought he was Edmonds police.”
Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart told KING 5 that Scaletta-Teates looked convincing enough to fool most people. “As a lay person, you’re not going to figure it out,” he said.
Felon Found with Gun and Police Gear
Scaletta-Teates’ arrest uncovered even more troubling information. Not only was he impersonating an officer, but police say he is also a convicted felon, which makes it illegal for him to possess a gun. At the time of his arrest, officers say he had:
A firearm
A large amount of police-style equipment
This led to two criminal charges:
First-degree criminal impersonation
Second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm
Court Appearance and Public Warning
Scaletta-Teates appeared in court on Monday, September 8, and pleaded not guilty. A judge set his bail at $50,000. The investigation is still ongoing, and police believe there may be more people who encountered him while he was pretending to be a cop.
The Bremerton Police Department is asking the public to report any suspicious or questionable encounters with Scaletta-Teates by calling 360-473-5220.
They also reminded citizens of ways to verify real police officers:
Ask for name and badge number
Call 911 to confirm the officer’s identity
If pulled over, drive to a well-lit, public area before stopping
The case of Michael A. Scaletta-Teates highlights how easily someone can impersonate a police officer and take advantage of the public’s trust in law enforcement. Thanks to alert officers and careful follow-up, the truth came out before anyone was seriously harmed.
But the situation also serves as a warning: always take steps to verify authority — even when someone looks the part.
