A convicted felon in Washington state is facing serious charges after allegedly impersonating a police officer and showing up to multiple emergency scenes dressed in tactical gear and driving a vehicle outfitted with police-style lights.
Michael Scaletta-Teates was arrested on September 5 in Bremerton, Washington, after arriving at an active crime scene wearing a dark uniform, tactical vest, and patches labeled “POLICE” and “SWAT.” His vest also bore a metallic badge from the Edmonds Police Department—an agency located about 35 miles from Bremerton.
According to Bremerton police and body camera footage obtained by KOMO News, officers initially believed Scaletta-Teates might be a legitimate member of law enforcement.
“I thought you were like one of our detectives at first,” an officer is heard saying on the video.
Scaletta-Teates claimed he worked part-time as a security guard and served as a police officer in Edmonds. However, when asked to produce his law enforcement credentials, he was unable to provide a police commission card—an ID issued to certified officers.
Authorities contacted the Edmonds Police Department, which confirmed that Scaletta-Teates had never worked there or appeared on their payroll.
During the encounter, Scaletta-Teates was reportedly driving an unmarked Ford Explorer equipped with blue emergency lights. Police later discovered a cache of law enforcement-style equipment in the vehicle, including a firefighter helmet, prompting one officer to comment, “He’s ready to do it all.”
Scaletta-Teates also claimed he had retired from the Baltimore Police Department after two decades of service, a claim that has not been substantiated.
He was booked into the Kitsap County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of a firearm. Due to a 2016 felony conviction in North Carolina for making a bomb threat, Scaletta-Teates is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. He served 185 days in prison for that offense.
Prior to his arrest, Scaletta-Teates had been working as a security guard at a Salvation Army shelter, where some reportedly found his demeanor threatening.
“He was intimidating last night,” a shelter resident told KOMO. “He told a couple of my friends to shut up and keep walking.”
In a separate incident, Scaletta-Teates was also filmed responding to an emergency call at a 7-Eleven, where witnesses say he identified himself as a police officer.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine whether Scaletta-Teates may have impersonated other public safety roles beyond law enforcement.