A convicted felon named Marshal Goodnight was arrested in Hemet on Monday after impersonating a police officer. Authorities stopped Goodnight while he was riding a motorcycle equipped with flashing emergency lights and observed him committing several vehicle code violations, according to the Hemet Police Department’s Facebook post.
When officers approached Goodnight, they found him wearing a uniform closely resembling that of a local law enforcement agency, complete with a duty belt and what looked like a Glock-style pistol.
Upon arrest, police discovered that the supposed firearm was actually two fully functional taser electronic control devices, an ASP baton, and a container of OC spray (pepper spray). His uniform had patches similar to those worn by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, with badges labeled “traffic” and “traffic control.” Goodnight also wore a hat marked “traffic unit” and carried a notepad labeled “sheriff,” along with handcuffs and other typical law enforcement gear.
His motorcycle was black and white with flashing emergency lights and was adorned with “traffic” and “public safety” stickers, mimicking a traditional police vehicle.
Police confirmed Goodnight is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or related weapons and is not licensed to provide security services through California’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
He faces multiple charges, including unlawful use and possession of tasers, possession of a leaded cane or baton, unlawful use of tear gas, and impersonating a police officer.
The incident has raised concerns in the community about how to handle encounters with individuals pretending to be law enforcement. Local resident David Luna expressed worry, saying, “He’s wearing a belt with an actual firearm and a taser, so I mean, you would think this guy’s legit.”
Police advise anyone unsure about an officer’s authenticity to call dispatch for verification and to always pull over in well-lit, populated areas and request proper identification.
