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Police: Man smokes synthetic marijuana, pretends to be cop, stops trucker for 'human trafficking'

He was arrested for impersonating a public servant and drug possession.
Photo: MGN Online

CENTRAL TEXAS -- A 20-year-old man was arrested for impersonating a police officer after stopping a truck he claimed was being driven by a human trafficker Monday afternoon in the 600 block of South Key Avenue in the City of Lampasas, according to police.

Police said Carlos Mandujano stopped the truck by honking and waving -- causing the truck driver to believe Mandujano was making him aware of a problem with the truck. When the trucker pulled over, Mandujano -- despite having no uniform and displaying no badge -- falsely claimed to be a police officer and ordered the trucker to open the trailer, according to authorities. The trucker demanded to see some identification, which the trucker told police Mandujano did not produce. So, the trucker flagged down an actual Lampasas police lieutenant.

When real police got involved, Mandujano told them he stopped the trucker "because he was a human trafficker," according to Lampasas Police Patrol Lieutenant Chuck Montgomery, who said Mandujano also told him he had "run" the truck's license plates by entering them into a basic Internet search.

"The investigation did not reveal any evidence of human trafficking, and it was determined Mandujano was not a police officer," Lt. Montgomery said.

Law enforcement said Mandujano voluntarily handed over suspected marijuana from his pocket and admitted to smoking synthetic marijuana prior to the incident, leading police to believe that may be an explanation for the bizarre encounter.

He was arrested for impersonating a public servant and possession of marijuana under two ounces.

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