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Drunk Man Arrested by OPD After Impersonating a Cop, Crashing into Police Cruiser

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 27, 2018

A disturbing incident took place this past Thursday that ended in the arrest of an intoxicated 53-year old Ocoee man after he collided with a police vehicle. Officers with the Orlando Police Department issued a statement regarding the situation that indicates that the man, Dolan, has a surprisingly well-documented history of impersonating police officers. This particular circumstance began when an actual police officer with the Orlando Police Department, who was traveling down North John Young Parkway, noticed a black Dodge Charger facing south and pulled over on the north side of the road. The Charger, a commonly used police vehicle, had red and blue flashing lights and the passing officer, believing the driver of the Charger to be another officer, pulled over in order to offer assistance.

When the officer approached the door, they immediately smelled alcohol coming from the open window. Next to the driver was a beer glass partially full of liquid. During the following conversation, Dolan told the officer that he (Dolan) was not a member of any police force. Dolan then told the officer that actual police were working down the road, that they had apprehended someone, and that he (Dolan) had decided to lend a hand to make sure that the officers had everything under control. The intoxicated white man then fabricated a strange and racist story about how a black man was wandering around the nearby area, assaulting women and snapping their spines. Dolan told the officer that he was there to help capture the murderer.

By this point, other police units were at the scene. The officers attempted to perform a DUI check on Dolan, but the man decided against this measure and proceeded to put his car into gear and began driving southward down the northbound lanes of John Nolan parkway.

Officers began to pursue Dolan, and since the man was traveling at a slow enough speed it was easy enough for a patrol car to get in front of the Charger and cut off its path. Dolan, seemingly unaware that a car was in front of him, proceeded to crash into the stopped police vehicle.

The police once again attempted to detain Dolan, but he began behaving erratically in the cab of the car, frequently reaching for an unknown object sitting in the passenger seat and refusing to take his hands out of his pockets. Police showed surprising restraint at Dolan’s unmistakably aggressive behavior, employing only a Taser in an attempt to force cooperation. A struggle ensued, but it was only a brief amount of time before the officers fully restrained Dolan, handcuffed him, and took him to jail.

Numerous charges are now pending against the imprisoned man.

James O. Cunningham

James O. CunninghamSince 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.

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