Man allegedly impersonating cop for parking spot, arrested by real officer

MILLCREEK — A man with a long history of police interactions is now in trouble for allegedly trying to impersonate an officer.

On Monday, a Unified police officer was at Walmart, 4627 S. 900 East, on another case when he spotted a gray Dodge Charger parked in an area designated for law enforcement only. The officer then watched Earl Tyree Ellen, 36, exit the store, get into the Charger and "turn on a set of red and blue lights in the front windshield of his vehicle and made people move out of his way," according to a police booking affidavit.

The officer followed Ellen and attempted to pull him over at 900 East and Vanwinkle Expressway, "but the subject immediately accelerated and did not stop," the affidavit states.

The car did stop, however, at a red light at 4500 S. 700 East, and the Unified officer took Ellen into custody. During a search of the car, officers found "a set of red and blue flashing lights in the front windshield" and a handgun in the trunk, according to the affidavit.

Ellen was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of being a restricted person in possession of a gun, failing to stop at the command of police and impersonating an officer.

According to court records, Ellen's criminal history in Utah dates back at least 14 years.

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