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He possessed a badge and conducted traffic stops in Riverside County, despite not being a police officer.
Impersonating a police officer is a serious and dangerous crime that can have far-reaching consequences. Recently, in Riverside County, a 70-year-old man was arrested for pretending to be a law enforcement officer and conducting traffic stops using a fake badge and emergency lights installed in his vehicle.
The man, identified as Steven Sawhill of Canyon Lake, was driving a white Ford Crown Victoria and pulling over unsuspecting drivers in Canyon Lake, near Lake Elsinore. Witnesses reported the suspicious behavior to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, prompting an investigation into the matter.
Upon locating the vehicle in question, deputies arrested Sawhill on charges of impersonating a peace officer, false imprisonment, and various vehicle code violations related to the unauthorized use of emergency lights. Additionally, Sawhill was found to be in possession of fraudulent identification cards, further complicating the case.
The alarming nature of this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution when interacting with individuals who claim to be law enforcement officers. It is essential to verify the credentials of anyone who attempts to pull you over or exercise authority under the guise of being a police officer.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have had a similar experience with Sawhill or who has additional information about the case to contact the Riverside sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300. By coming forward, individuals can assist law enforcement in ensuring that justice is served and preventing further incidents of impersonation and misconduct.
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.