Florida man in Buccaneers jersey poses as officer, attempts to pull over cars on I-75, troopers say

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - A Florida man is facing a felony charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer after he allegedly tried to pull over cars on Interstate 75 in Brooksville over the weekend, troopers said. 

Earl Cesario, 62, of Tampa, was arrested and taken to the Sumter County jail Sunday while wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, a trooper pulled over Cesario after receiving a report that a red GMC pickup truck was using red and blue flashing lights in an attempt to pull over other cars, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Cesario told FHP he had red and blue lights mounted on his dashboard before the trooper pulled him over, but denied having them activated, authorities said. 

A witness at the scene, however, told authorities he was driving northbound on the interstate when Cesario's truck drove up behind his vehicle flashing red and blue lights. The vehicle then pulled along the side of his car and the driver aggressively motioned for him to pull over by pointing his finger,  the witness told FHP.

 The driver said he believed it was an undercover law enforcement vehicle and began the process of pulling over, but became suspicious after the truck sped off.

Troopers conducted a probable cause search of Cesario's vehicle and found the rotating red and blue flashing lights. The lights automatically activated when troopers plugged them into the two cigarette lighters located in the front of the truck's center console. 

FHP said both cigarette lighters were opened prior to them testing the lights, indicating they were used prior to them pulling Cesario over.

Cesario was placed under arrest and taken to jail without incident.