Two Ford Explorers that looked enough like police vehicles to draw multiple complaints on Interstate 90 in Washington eventually attracted the attention of actual deputies, leading to a roadside investigation and the arrest of a 21-year-old man.
The bodycam footage was featured by the YouTube channel FirstResponderFiles, whose narrator said deputies received reports on July 3, 2026, that two Explorers were allegedly conducting traffic stops despite not being legitimate law enforcement vehicles.
One of the men involved was later identified as Ethan Denmark.
The channel said Denmark was ultimately booked into jail on charges of unlawful imprisonment and second-degree criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer.
Deputies Stop One of the Explorers
The encounter began when a deputy pulled over one of the Ford Explorers after reports came in about vehicles allegedly activating emergency-style lights on the highway.
Deputy Nicholson introduced himself and told the driver his body camera was recording.
“The reason for the stop is we got some calls coming in about potentially lights getting turned on,” Nicholson said.
The driver denied activating lights.
He told deputies that he and another man were heading toward Seattle for a parade and said the Explorers were connected to security work and police-car related activity.
The deputy immediately asked about the second vehicle.
The driver said his friend, who was also in a black Explorer, had been stopped farther away.
At one point, the driver also warned Nicholson that there was a gun in the glove box.
That detail alone did not prove anything improper, but it added another layer to a situation that already looked unusual.
The Cars Looked Like Police Vehicles
Deputies were clearly concerned about how the Explorers appeared to other drivers.
One officer pointed out that a vehicle equipped with antennas, police-style features and emergency-light equipment naturally attracts attention.
“You drive a car like this, there’s a lot of eyes on you,” the deputy said.
The driver insisted that he had never had a problem before and said he was not trying to impersonate law enforcement.
Deputies, however, were working from multiple complaints.
That is an important distinction.
A police-style vehicle by itself is not necessarily evidence of a crime, but complaints that the vehicle was being used to stop motorists change the situation significantly.
The first driver gave deputies the name and phone number of his friend, Ethan, who was believed to be in Ellensburg.
Deputy Nicholson called him and asked him to remain at a Super One Foods location until officers arrived.
Denmark Denies Conducting Traffic Stops
When deputies made contact with Denmark, he was read his rights and agreed to speak.
He said he and his friend had been traveling from the Spokane area toward Seattle for a parade.
When asked directly whether they had stopped any vehicles, Denmark denied it.
“No,” he said. “We were just convoying the entire time.”
He told deputies that his Explorer contained emergency-style lighting equipment, but insisted that it was disabled.
Denmark said he had removed or disconnected equipment after an earlier stop near Moses Lake because another officer had questioned him about the lights.
According to him, nothing capable of displaying red or blue lights was functioning.
Deputies then asked whether they could inspect the vehicle to verify that claim.
Denmark agreed.
That level of cooperation did not end the investigation, because officers were still trying to reconcile his statements with what callers had reported seeing.
Guns and Handcuffs Found in the Vehicle
Before deputies searched the Explorer, Denmark told them there were firearms in the rear of the vehicle.
He said they were unloaded and belonged to his parents.
He explained that the group had planned to visit a shooting range after the parade.
During the search, officers also found handcuffs.
The discovery of police-style gear, firearms and emergency-light equipment made the setup look even more like a law-enforcement vehicle, although the real legal question remained whether Denmark had actually used it to stop people.
Deputies discussed that distinction among themselves.
They noted that a caller had described an older Explorer that looked like a police car and had allegedly activated red lights.
One officer said the timing and vehicle description appeared to fit.
Another pointed out that the men seemed familiar with how to disable and reactivate the lighting systems.
Still, the officers repeatedly acknowledged that they were working through exactly what had happened.
That part of the footage is notable because the deputies did not simply jump from appearance to arrest. They spent time discussing whether there was enough information to support unlawful imprisonment and criminal impersonation charges.
Witness Report Becomes Key
The investigation shifted when deputies discussed a witness who reportedly saw one of the Explorers conducting a traffic stop.
Officers said the witness described red lights and a vehicle that appeared to be acting like law enforcement.
At first, there was some confusion over whether that witness had personally been stopped or had simply observed another vehicle being stopped.
Deputies clarified that the caller was a passerby.
Even so, they believed the report supported the conclusion that someone had been detained under the appearance of police authority.
One deputy explained that if a driver activates emergency lights and causes another motorist to pull over because they believe police are behind them, that can become more serious than simply possessing police-style equipment.
The question then becomes whether the driver intentionally used the appearance of law enforcement to restrict someone else’s movement.
That is where the unlawful-imprisonment allegation came into play.
Denmark Is Told He Is Going to Jail
After discussing the available witness statements and evidence, deputies informed Denmark that he was being arrested.
One officer told him the charges were unlawful imprisonment and second-degree criminal impersonation.
Denmark continued to deny activating emergency lights.
He said he had intentionally made sure the lights were not working because he knew a situation like this could happen.
“I’m telling the honest truth,” he said.
He also told officers that his friend had talked him into the trip and that he had tried to avoid exactly this kind of problem.
Deputies explained that the investigation would continue, but that based on the information they had at that point, he was still going to jail.
Because one of the charges was a felony, they told him he would not immediately receive bail and would have to see a judge.
Denmark asked whether there was another way to continue investigating without booking him.
The answer was no.
A Police Look-Alike Can Create Real Consequences
According to FirstResponderFiles, Denmark was ultimately booked into the county jail on the two charges.
The case turned on more than simply driving an Explorer that resembled a police vehicle.
The allegations involved using that appearance, along with emergency-style lights, to make other motorists believe they were being stopped by legitimate law enforcement.
That is why the distinction matters.
There are plenty of enthusiasts, security workers and vehicle collectors who own former police vehicles or install equipment that resembles law-enforcement gear.
The problem begins when that appearance is allegedly used to exercise authority that the driver does not actually have.
Denmark maintained that he never activated the lights and never stopped anyone.
Deputies said witness accounts suggested otherwise.
By the end of the bodycam footage, that disagreement had moved out of the roadside investigation and into the criminal justice system.
The two Explorers may have looked like police vehicles.
But once actual deputies arrived, the men behind the wheel no longer controlled how the encounter ended.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
