Deltona Man Arrested For Impersonating Officer

Date Added: March 19, 2019 5:04 pm

Contact: Laura Williams,
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

DELTONA MAN ARRESTED AFTER IMPERSONATING AN OFFICER

Subject Activates Lights, Appears to 'Pull Over' VCSO Sergeant

An off-duty sergeant for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office encountered a truck that got his attention Sunday, especially when he passed the vehicle and its driver activated flashing red emergency lights and spoke over a public address system – as if he was a law enforcement officer.

But he wasn’t.

VCSO Detective Sgt. Todd Smith observed the red truck while driving behind it in his unmarked VCSO vehicle. The sergeant noted the truck had a specialty license plate, special lights, radar and other devices that signify a patrol vehicle. At one point, the driver flashed a white light bar as if trying to conduct a traffic stop on Smith.

As Sgt. Smith drove through Pierson, the truck pulled beside Smith and began talking via his public address system, as if giving Smith a verbal warning. Soon after, Smith conducted a traffic stop on the driver, who was identified as Thomas Farmer of Deltona. During the traffic stop, Farmer again activated a light bar on his truck, which flashed yellow lights.

When asked if he was a law enforcement officer, Farmer stated he was not. Sgt. Smith told Farmer his behavior indicated he was impersonating a law enforcement officer, was unacceptable and directed him to stop. Farmer left the scene saying he understood.

Smith continued to investigate the incident and discovered two other similar incidents in Volusia County in which Farmer was attempting to pretend to be a police officer and influence traffic. Both times, Farmer was warned to stop the behavior.

Farmer, 64, (DOB 9-23-54) was arrested on a warrant Tuesday at his home. He is charged with False Personation of LEO and remains held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $2,500 bail.