WILSONVILLE, OR (KPTV) -
Marion County Deputies cited a 27-year-old Washington man over the weekend after they said they caught him driving recklessly on Interstate 5 in vehicle similar to an unmarked police car.
At about 9:24 a.m. Saturday, Traffic Safety Deputy Casey Burnham was stopped northbound on I-5 near Wilsonville, issuing a citation, when he saw a black 2009 Nissan Maxima speeding southbound on the freeway.
The car was displaying white and amber flashing lights in the front windshield, and flashing blue LED lights in the grillwork, deputies told FOX 12.
Burnham estimated the car was going faster than 80 mph, and noted it was changing lanes and driving around vehicles that appeared to be yielding to the car's flashing lights, deputies said.
The car was similar in appearance to unmarked police cars, but it was not one Burnham was familiar with.
As the car passed Burnham, the driver looked his way and suddenly turned off the lights, investigators said.
Sr. TST Deputy Jeff Nicoloff was patrolling in the area and spotted the Maxima exiting the freeway at Ehlen Road.
The Maxima took the southbound off ramp, but then took the northbound onramp and returned to the freeway, heading back toward Deputy Burnham, FOX 12 learned.
Nicoloff and Burnham stopped the car as it traveled northbound near the Marion/Clackamas county line.
The driver was identified as James Winfrey of Vancouver.
His 12-year-old son was a front seat passenger, deputies said.
A light bar attached to the windshield with suction cups was identical to those used by law enforcement officer, but the lights had been changed from blue and red, to amber and white, deputies said.
The blue LED lights were identical to those used in law enforcement, investigators said.
Winfrey said he was going to a car show and had gotten separated from the group he was traveling with, deputies said.
He claimed he was only using the lights to help him catch up with his friends.
He said the lights were usually used only for display at car shows, investigators said.
Deputies found no evidence that Winfrey was attempting to pull over cars to contact drivers and falsely represent himself as a police officer, deputies said.
He was issued a citation for disorderly conduct II, reckless endangerment and several other traffic violations.
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James Winfrey
