Man masquerading as a deputy meets real deputy during traffic stop, NC cops say

A traffic stop took an unexpected turn when a fake deputy encountered a driver who turned out to be a real deputy, according to investigators in western North Carolina.

It happened on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Henderson County, and the suspect not only had blue lights on his vehicle, but he “was wearing a gun, badge and handcuffs,” an arrest warrant reports.

Rodrigo Barrera-Lozada, 22, has been charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, and felony operating blue lights to cause a stop or yield the right of way, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 4 news release.

“It is believed that there may be additional victims in the western N.C. area. Barrera-Lozada is known to operate a dark-in-color Hyundai Elantra with functioning emergency lights,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Anyone with additional information relating to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit at 828-694-3130.”

Court documents report Barrera-Lozada used his blue lights to stop a driver, identified himself as a Henderson County traffic enforcement officer, and ordered the driver to produce a license and registration.

He then “proceeded to give the victim a verbal warning,” the warrant says.

Investigators didn’t reveal how the suspect reacted to being exposed as a fraud.

However, court documents report he later identified himself as deputy in neighboring Buncombe County, and said he was driving a “vehicle issued by Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.”

Henderson County is about a 105-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published February 5, 2026 at 5:51 AM with the headline "Man masquerading as a deputy meets real deputy during traffic stop, NC cops say."