ISHPEMING - The Marquette County Sheriff's Office said its preliminary investigation has revealed a police officer impersonation incident, which was reported Saturday night, south of Ishpeming in Ely Township, was a prank perpetrated by juveniles.
"After numerous tips from the public and parent cooperation, the suspects were identified as juveniles that reside in that area," deputies said in a news release.
Marquette County Sheriff's Office Capt. David Lemire said four to six individuals were involved in the incident. Police were working through the parents of the alleged suspects to interview their children.
The case will be submitted to the Marquette County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Deputies said the incident was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and occurred along Marquette County Road 581. Police said a young female driver was signaled to pull over by a vehicle with a lit red oscillating light on the roof and a spotlight.
Police said the driver was about to comply when she realized the vehicle was not a marked police vehicle. She did not stop her vehicle and drove south along the county road to her residence. She said she had seen the vehicle parked earlier on the side of the road near Marquette County Road PRG in Tilden Township, with the lights off.
Police said the girl told her father what had happened. He then went out driving in an attempt to find the vehicle. After driving along County Road 581, a vehicle described as possibly a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck with three occupants, pulled up to and passed, the father's vehicle. The truck had its bright lights on. The father saw a spotlight and a red oscillating light on the dashboard, but they were unlit at the time. Deputies said the vehicle then fled into the Flat Rock Road area at the end of County Road 581.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His email address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.