Men allegedly take cop car, stop drivers
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - The son of Ballwin Police Chief James Biederman and a friend were arrested Sunday after police said the two took Biederman's unmarked police car and began pulling over motorists.
Authorities said the 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old friend were using the car's siren and lights to pull over motorists and check their licenses. They both wore cargo pants and shirts with police logos. The chief's son even wore a gun belt with an air pistol that resembled a .40-caliber Glock, police said.
Their fun ended when they pulled over an off-duty St. Charles County sheriff's detective.
Sheriff Tom Neer said that after the detective identified himself, they told him they were on special assignment with the Ballwin police department.
As the detective checked their story with his supervisor, the two men ran back to their car and drove off. The detective ran the license plate and saw that it belonged to Biederman, who lives nearby.
The detective identified the two when police went to the chief's address, where they were then arrested. They are expected to be charged with misdemeanor charges of impersonating a police officer.
Biederman told KSDK-TV in St. Louis, "It is a family matter and we are dealing with it supporting our son. Unfortunately, he made a poor choice and will have to deal with the consequences of his actions."
Neer said the two were lucky they didn't pull over anyone with outstanding felony warrants or another reason to escape police.
"Every car an officer stops, he expects the worst and hopes for the best," Neer said. "I don't think that went through these youngsters' heads."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061003/ap_on_fe_st/police_car_joy_ride
