Person arrested for pretending to be police

A Chico police officer arrested a man for allegedly impersonating a police officer on Saturday.

Lonnie Henderson was pulled over by a Chico police officer on Saturday afternoon in the 2000 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway after the officer noticed that a vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria, was fitted with California- exempt license plates that did not fit the car, said Chico police in a press release. The license plate was determined to have been allegedly stolen from a Sutter County Government vehicle.

The vehicle was found to be equipped with fully-functioning forward and rear-facing red and blue emergency lights, as well as a functioning audible siren and public address system, said police. A large amount of fraudulent U. S. currency, was also found during the traffic enforcement stop which Henderson allegedly admitted to have used at several businesses in Chico.

According to police, Henderson admitted to stealing the license plate, adding the red and blue emergency lights, siren and PA system to his car in an attempt to identify himself as a police officer.

Henderson is in Butte County Jail for four charges including impersonating a peace officer, knowingly displaying false plates, possession of stolen property and possession of fraudulent currency with the intent to defraud. He sits with a bond of $19,000.

A large amount of fraudulent U.S. currency, was also found during the traffic enforcement stop which Henderson allegedly admitted to have used at several businesses in Chico.