@Copwatchtv obtained body camera footage of a private security guard accused of impersonating a police officer after he tried to pull over an off duty police captain on the interstate. This video shows how the guard tried to justify unknowingly trying to pull over a New Mexico State Police captain.
State police were called to assist an off duty NMSP captain on November 4 who called to report someone trying to pull him over on I-40. “He turns on all of his lights – blues in the front, reds in the back – just trying to control traffic and act like a cop,†said the NMSP captain. The captain said something felt off.
When responding NMSP officers talked with Ronald Portillo he claimed the captain never identified himself. Portillo then became argumentative over the captain’s authentic badge.
Officers tried to place Portillo into custody after he basically talked himself into getting arrested. Once detained, Portillo had a bizarre explanation for what he was doing. “We go to Central and Eubank and we just run all the way down the hill. I didn’t light him up. I didn’t do anything because that’s against the law to pose as an officer. I’m a “PPO” for the state. I work for this private company and we’re cleaning house here,†Portillo says. It is unclear what he meant when he said he was a PPO. State records show Portillo is merely a private investigator with no arrest or police powers whatsoever. He definitely had no authority to try and pull over a private citizen. To make things even more ridiculous Portillos vehicle didn’t even have a license plate displayed most likely to conceal his identity while pulling over other random citizens.
The captain tried to discuss the incident with the guard, but he remained defiant.
Portillo was not arrested on scene but instead was given a misdemeanor citation for impersonating an officer and he was released. Portillo was scheduled to be arraigned on the charge on December 7 but the arresting officer forgot to sign the citation so it was dismissed in court. NMSP said they have refiled the charge with a signed citation. If found guilty, Portillo faces up to a year behind bars and a fine of up to $2,000.
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