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PAROWAN — A man was arrested over the weekend after police say he tried to get through freeway traffic by installing red and blue flashing lights in his work truck.
The 47-year-old man was booked into the Iron County Jail for investigation of several misdemeanor offenses, including impersonation of an officer, drug possession and DUI.
About 12:25 p.m. Sunday, a pickup truck was traveling north on I-15 near Parowan. Mulitple drivers called 911 saying the truck "had red and blue flashing lights and they were getting other vehicles to move out of their way," according to a police booking affidavit.
Even though the pickup had emergency lights in the grill, other drivers were suspicious because the truck had a construction company logo on the side, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden.
The pickup exited the freeway onto a frontage road and was stopped by troopers near the border of Iron and Beaver counties.
"I contacted the driver and told him why we were there, and he admitted to turning on his red and blue lights," a trooper wrote in the arrest report.
Troopers also reported finding small bag containing a white powdery substance which the driver allegedly claimed was "amphetamine, and he takes it to stay awake while driving."
The driver tested positive "for cannabis, amphetamine, and methamphetamine," according to the affidavit. A remote control was also found in the truck that "turned on the lights and they were red and blue. There was only one setting programmed."
Roden says investigators have no evidence to show the man was trying to pull people over, but believe he was only trying to get through traffic faster.
