Lethbridge police say driver of lookalike LPS cruiser may have pulled people over

Lethbridge police seized this vehicle on May 9, 2026, saying the driver was impersonating a police officer.

Lethbridge police are asking anyone who may have been pulled over by someone in a vehicle that looked like a police cruiser – but wasn’t – to get in touch with them.

Police said earlier this week that a 20-year-old man had been charged with impersonating a police officer.

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It’s alleged Will Nicholas Waddell was driving a black Ford Explorer fitted with a push bar on the bumper, LED lights, siren speakers, antennas and a “police interceptor” sticker on the rear.

Police said there was a searchlight mounted on the driver’s side of the vehicle and bars on the blacked-out, rear passenger windows.

After releasing details about Waddell, police say additional information came to light indicating the vehicle may have been used to conduct a fake traffic stop.

Waddell’s vehicle was seized and towed to a police compound on May 9 after being pulled over on Mayor Magrath Drive South.

According to police, Waddell had previously been warned, ticketed and directed to remove the equipment.

“In Canada, it is a criminal offence for someone to falsely represent themselves as a police or peace officer, or use a badge, article of uniform or equipment, such as a vehicle, in a manner that is likely to cause persons to believe they are an officer,” police said in a news release.

“In this case, while some of the equipment on the vehicle – such as the push bar – is not illegal in isolation, the totality and use of multiple items installed to make the SUV resemble a police vehicle, could cause the public to mistake it for law enforcement which constitutes the offence.”

Waddell is scheduled to appear in court on July 8.

Anyone who believes they were – or were witness to – the vehicle being used to conduct a traffic stop is asked to call police at 403-328-4444.