Montgomery County Police have arrested Melvin Andrew Pinkney Jr. of California, Maryland, and charged him with impersonating a police officer after he allegedly attempted to conduct a traffic stop on an off-duty Montgomery County Police officer in downtown Silver Spring.
According to police, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on June 15 when Pinkney, driving a Ford Taurus equipped with red and blue emergency lights, pulled over an unmarked police cruiser being operated by a 2nd District Special Assignment Team officer.
Police said Pinkney exited his vehicle wearing a holster and later claimed to be an active-duty deputy sheriff with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and a retired Metropolitan Police Department officer, but did not provide law enforcement credentials. Investigators determined the vehicle was privately owned and not authorized for law enforcement use. Pinkney was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer and is being held without bond. Detectives believe there may be additional victims who were stopped by Pinkney and are asking them to contact police.
