The Everett Police Department recently share a story of a fake police officer making traffic stops back in January. It’s nowhere near the level of Officer Mezzy, but still concerning.
On January 13th, 2026, Everett patrol officers responded to a report of a male impersonating a police officer near the 4600 block of S 3rd Ave in Everett, Washington across from Lowell Park.
Upon arrival, the reporting party told Everett Police that he was driving on South 3rd Ave, the road that runs between I-5 and the train tracks, when a silver pick-up truck with a decal reading “Traffic Control” flashed blue lights behind him, prompting him to pull over.
During their conversation, the suspect impersonating an officer claimed to be a “security officer” and an “off-duty Duvall police officer.”
He told the reporting party he stopped him for “speeding.”
The reporting party had a dash camera, and the video footage was shown to responding officers. Officers checked with Duvall Police, and they confirmed this person did not work for them.
On January 30th, 2026, the Everett Police Anti-Crime Team (ACT) and Violent Crime Unit (VCU) were notified of the suspect vehicle’s location in Everett using the Flock LPR (License Plate Reader) system.
Using LPR alerts, officers located the male, and he was taken into custody. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for Criminal Impersonation 2. The suspsect’s name is Michael John Kelly and he’s being held on $500 bail. Criminal Impersonation 2 is a gross misdemeanor in Washington State with a maximum sentence of a $5,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
The Everett Police Department encourages anyone who believes they may have encountered a police impersonator to report the incident to their local authorities. Following a recent arrest involving police impersonation, they also want to remind the community: if you ever feel unsure or unsafe during a traffic stop, call 911.
February 5, 2026
Police Blotter