San Jose police are investigating a July 6 incident they think may have involved a man later arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer.
An 18-year-old San Jose woman was driving back from a friend’s residence in the Morgan Hill area about 2:30 a.m. July 6, when, she says, a car began following her, according to police.
Check out our photo gallery of people arrested in SLO County on suspicion of committing felonies and read about their alleged crimes. See photos »
Upon arriving at her home, she got out of her car in her driveway, and the vehicle following her stopped on the street. She says a spotlight was used and she was questioned about her driving before the car drove away.
The woman said that the car contained a young, white driver, accompanied by a young, white female in the passenger seat. The car appeared similar to an unmarked police car, according to the woman.
The woman contacted authorities about the incident July 22, after reading about the arrest of 27-year-old San Jose resident Mark Ryan Polini on charges of impersonating a police officer and concealing weapons.
Officers say the description of the car and its driver may match that of Polini, who was arrested about 3:15 a.m. July 19 in San Luis Obispo County after being found sitting in a car that looked like an unmarked police car with a cage and console.
When officers learned Polini was not a police officer, they received permission to search his car, and said they discovered a loaded pistol, handcuffs, multiple badges, several "air soft" pistols, holsters and an expandable police baton.
The car, a black 2001 Crown Victoria, was "elaborately outfitted" with a dashboard camera, strobe lights, siren, mobile data computer, radios and a prisoner cage screen, according to Atascadero detective Rochelle Hanson.
Polini was said to be dressed in all black, wearing a California Highway Patrol cap.
San Jose police ask anyone with information about either incident to contact them at 408-277-4161.
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