August 29, 2015
A Delaware teenager has been charged with impersonating a police officer, officials announced Saturday.
According to Delaware State Police, 17-year-old Deward Steele Jr. of Smyrna was taken into custody after an incident involving a female driver.
Police say that the driver, 24, was travelling northbound on Bayside Drive, north of North Little Creek Road, just after midnight on Monday, August 24.
The woman told police she passed a tan Chevrolet Impala after it pulled over to the side of the road. Police say that strobe lights were then activated on the vehicle, which drove up behind her.
Thinking the car was a police vehicle, she pulled over to the road's shoulder, but the car passed her by. She passed by the Impala again, and the car came back around behind her with the lights on, but this time she did not pull over.
According to police, the Impala came up alongside her for a few seconds in a no passing zone before driving past her. The woman called 911 and police pulled over the Impala, arresting Steele.
In addition to impersonating a police officer, which is a felony, he has been charged with disorderly conduct, driving without a valid license, driving in a no passing zone, and unauthorized flashing Lights.
Steele was arraigned and released on $1,325 unsecured bond. Anyone who has experienced a similar incident with Steele or his vehicle is asked to call state trooper Douglas from Troop 9 at 302-378-5749.