Driver caught impersonating CHP officer: San Rafael police

San Rafael police officers arrested a Richmond man for allegedly impersonating a police officer while they were patrolling the area Wednesday morning. 

Richmond man Matthew Bennett Connolly is accused of decking his car with California Highway Patrol logos. 

The backstory:

SRPD officers were on Bellam Boulevard and the Interstate 580 overpass around 10:40 a.m. when they saw what they thought was an older model CHP Chevrolet Camaro car used by the department nearly a decade ago, officials said.

When they first saw the 25-year-old, they waved at him, not thinking anything was amiss. It wasn't until the officers noticed he wasn't wearing a uniform that they became suspicious. 

The officers did a U-turn on the road to further inspect the car and noticed the car didn't have the proper license plate and was not registered with the state's law enforcement agency. 

Image 1 of 2

Richmond man impersonating CHP officer. 

While under investigation, officials said Connolly admitted to placing the decals on his car and acknowledged the public would believe it would be a legitimate police car. 

Connolly told the officers he did this for a car show, but officials said the car hadn't been used in a car show since its recent removal from an impound yard for expired registration. 

 Connolly was arrested for falsely impersonating a police officer and booked into the Marin County Jail.

San Rafael police informed the CHP. SRPD officers are also investigating if there have been recent reports of Connolly or the car being used in false impersonation cases.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the San Rafael Police Department at (415) 485-3000.

The Source: San Rafael Police Department

California Highway PatrolSan RafaelNorth BayNews