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Sgt. Michael Blondin stopped the car driven by Justin Wunderlich of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess for various motor vehicle violations and smelled raw pot, Police Chief James Batelli told Daily Voice.
A search turned up loose marijuana, a joint and a package of medical marijuana that Wunderlich admitted stealing, Batelli said.
As officers processed him, the chief said, they got a call from someone claiming to be Officer Mackey of the Fishkill Police Department.
The purported officer "began to scream that Justin [Wunderlich] was currently participating in a major undercover operation and demanded that Blondin return the drugs to Justin and release him without charges for the integrity of the operation," Batelli said.
A check with police in Fishkill and other New York area determined that there was no Officer Mackey, he said.
So Lt. Scott Chevren called the number that the "officer" left and was told again that he was a policeman, Batelli said.
Police identified the caller as Brandon Wunderlich.
They had him respond to Mahwah police headquarters, where they charged him with impersonating a police officer, obstruction and hindering.
He was released pending a court date, as was Justin Wunderlich, who, Batelli said, "claimed that he was not aware the call was made and had no part in arranging it."
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