MAN CHARGED WITH USING ‘ POLICE- TYPE LIGHTS’ TO PULL OVER OTHER VEHICLES
Amanwas chargedwith running from police after he was seen using “police- type lights” in an effort to pull over vehicles early Thursday in west suburban Riverside.
At 4: 08 a. m., an officer saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed onWoodside Road near 31st Street, according to Riverside police. The vehiclewas clocked at 67 miles per hour, 42miles over the posted speed limit. The driver was also displaying an oscillating strobe light from inside the vehicle “in an attempt to make traffic stops” on other vehicles.
The Riverside officer then tried to stop the vehicle near the intersection ofWoodside Road and Park Place, but the driver took off.
Later Thursday, the driver, Martin J. Fridrich, 40, attempted a similar traffic stop, causing a disturbance in Burr Ridge, where hewas taken into custody, police said. Riverside detectiveswent to interview Fridrich, who admitted to the previous incident.
During the interview, Fridrich claimed hewas a police officer chasing peoplewho had harassed him, police said. Detectives found the claims to be “completely fictitious,” noting that therewere no vehicles on the roadway at the time Fridrichwas attempting to make the stops.
In addition, Fridrich claimed that lawenforcement officials are “demons,” police said.