HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – There are bad days, and then there is the day you accidentally try to arrest the actual police. That is the exact scenario that unfolded on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, along U.S. Highway 301 North in Thonotosassa.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Nadi Jabari, 46, was cruising down the highway in a black Chevrolet Suburban when he decided to activate a custom setup of red and blue emergency lights. He pulled up behind a vehicle and began attempting to initiate a traffic stop. The only problem? The driver he chose to target was an undercover sheriff’s deputy.
The undercover deputy didn’t buy the performance, and actual on-duty deputies quickly swarmed the area to turn the tables, conducting a very real traffic stop on Jabari’s Suburban instead.
During the roadside investigation, detectives didn’t just find the active illegal light setup. They also uncovered an additional two-foot emergency light bar and a firearm hidden inside the vehicle.
Jabari’s makeshift law enforcement career ended on the spot. He was arrested and booked on three felony and misdemeanor charges: False Personation, Unlawful Use of Blue Light, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister didn’t find the stunt amusing, noting that fake officers put the entire community at risk.
“When someone falsely presents themselves as law enforcement, they threaten the trust that exists between deputies and the community we serve,” said Sheriff Chronister. “This individual’s actions were dangerous, deliberate, and illegal. We will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to impersonate a deputy and use that deception to intimidate or endanger others.”
While the sheer irony of the arrest stands out, the Sheriff’s Office used the incident to remind real drivers how to stay safe. Officials advise that if you are ever uncertain whether the flashing lights behind you belong to a legitimate officer, you should turn on your hazard lights, drive to a well-lit public location, and call 911 to verify the stop.
The investigation into Jabari’s poorly timed traffic stop remains active and ongoing.
READ: Fast Cash, Faster Cuffs: Two Florida Men Arrested In $3,000 Bank Heist
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