NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro police arrested a man who they say posed as a police officer and pulled a gun on another driver during an apparent road rage incident.
According to an affidavit, the incident happened Sunday on Swinging Bridge Road and Ensley Avenue in Nashville.
Metro Police say Clifford Polly Jr. is accused of escalating the situation by blocking the road with his Dodge Charger, which was equipped with red and white "wig-wag" lights and pointing a gun at the other driver.
Police said Polly claimed he could not get away from the other driver. However, they said he made a U-turn, turned on his vehicle lights and then pointed a gun at the other car.
According to the police report, Polly said, "I don't want to shoot you" and "get back into your vehicle" numerous times while on the phone with dispatch. A witness also reported hearing Polly say, "I will shoot you" through the vehicle's announcement equipment.
Police said Polly admitted he was not a sworn-in law enforcement officer but apparently works in security services. They say he was also wearing a uniform that was “consistent with police officers” and had a duty belt and patches that said, “Private Duty Law Enforcement.”
NewsChannel 5 Legal Analyst Nick Leonardo says there are certain things you can look for in case you think someone pulling you over might not be a real police officer.
"First of all, they have the patch on their arm that has the seal of the metropolitan police department, they have a badge that says metropolitan police department on it," Leonardo said.
That's different than a patch across the front that says something generic like "agent." You can also always ask for identification and make a call to dispatch.
Polly was charged with criminal impersonation of a police officer and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
