A Hillsboro man who pled guilty in Hillsboro Municipal Court on Friday could see his charge of impersonating a police officer dismissed if he completes community service.
An affidavit filed with the court states that an officer was leaving the Hillsboro Police Department after he completed his shift on Tuesday. At that time, he reportedly saw a vehicle turn from North High Street onto West Main Street.
He then allegedly observed “red and blue strobe lights emit from the front windshield for a 10 to 15 second burst,” according to the affidavit.
As the officer traveled west, passing the Speedway gas station, the vehicle allegedly approached the rear of the officer’s car. The officer reports that he “slowed and pulled to the right side of the roadway as the unknown vehicle continued to tailgate (his) vehicle,” as stated in the affidavit.
The affidavit adds that “the unknown vehicle reactivated the red and blue strobe lights and quickly maneuvered around (the officer’s) vehicle, crossing into the oncoming lane.”
The officer reported that he obtained a license plate number and then followed the vehicle west on to U.S. 50, south onto Mad River Road, and then on to SR 138, where he “was unable to keep visual due to the excessive speed,” according to the affidavit.
Later, a sergeant and a Highland County Sheriff’s Office deputy went to the address associated with the license plate number. The affidavit states that they spoke with Wesley Perdue, 24, who said that his dog in the vehicle “must have hit the switch to trigger the lights,” according to the statement.
The sergeant reportedly told Perdue that his lights were illegal and needed to be removed.
On Thursday, the officer who reported the lights made contact with Perdue, according to the affidavit. Perdue allegedly told him that he had just left UDF and thought that his dog hit the switch to activate the lights while there, the affidavit states.
Perdue then allegedly said he “noticed the lights were on when he observed the (police) vehicle leave the ally on West Main,” the affidavit adds.
He also allegedly told the officer that “when the vehicle slowed and moved to the other side of the road, he activated the red and blue strobe lights and sped around the vehicle,” according to the affidavit.
He added that “he was scared when the vehicle continued to follow him,” the affidavit states.
Perdue was then arrested and transported to the Highland County Jail.
On Friday, Perdue was arraigned on first-degree misdemeanor charges of impersonating a police officer. According to the municipal court, he pled guilty to that charge.
Court records show that sentencing was deferred until September. If Perdue completes 40 hours of community service, the case will be dismissed at his cost.
Records add that Perdue’s bond was set at his own recognizance.
Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.
