Police: Port Orange cop impersonator had fake badge, license plates, blue lights

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — A Volusia County man accused of posing as a cop has been arrested by the real men in blue, Channel 9 has learned.

Authorities said when they arrested 29-year-old Joseph Naecker in Port Orange on Tuesday, he had an assault rifle, a handgun and smoke grenades in his car.

Naecker told authorities he attended a law enforcement academy and was applying to be a border patrol agent.

But authorities said Naecker has been acting as a policeman and has been patrolling the streets for weeks.

When Port Orange police asked Naecker why he had guns and a bulletproof vest, he said he was simply prepared for an active shooter scenario.

The investigation began last week when police found Naecker parked at the Dunlawton Square Shopping Center in a black Chrysler 300.

Naecker evaded questions by police, who eventually saw blue lights in his car, a police scanner, a pistol and an AR-15 rifle.

Police searched the vehicle and also found counterfeit license plates, one of which they recognized when a car similar to Naecker's fled from officers in July.

Police also suspect Naecker of pulling people over using the blue lights.

Police said they also found a jacket with the word "POLICE" on it and an imitation Daytona Beach police badge.

Naecker couldn't explain why he was monitoring police radio channels.

WFTV