By Nikki Gaskins
ngaskins@abcnews4.com
JAMES
ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — A Moncks Corner man arrested for impersonating a
police officer says the entire incident was a big misunderstanding.
Jason
Stoddard, 32, spent part of his weekend in jail after police say he
tried to pull over a woman in what appeared to be a real-life police
cruiser.
"I'm not out here pulling people over, trying to murder people," said Stoddard.
Stoddard
says his trouble all started after he borrowed a fake police cruiser
from a friend to use in a music video early Saturday morning.
"I've been making films for 12 years," he said.
He says the shoot location all took place near a friend's house by Yale Drive and Mohawk Avenue on James Island.
Stoddard says a young woman he knew eventually showed up near the house and the confusion began.
"I
got out of the car just to say 'Hey, you know, whatever' and then she
took off running. I guess she didn't recognize me because I was in a
hat and was wearing the same coat," said Stoddard.
According to
police, the woman dialed 911 as Stoddard drove after her and actually
tried to conduct a traffic stop using red and bluish white lights
beaming from his Crown Victoria.
"There were four cops that had
pulled me over and pulled me out of the car and said, 'You're
impersonating a police officer. We have her over there saying she
doesn't know you,'" said Stoddard.
Inside the fake cop car police say they found handcuffs, gloves, and an LED light bar.
"There
was nothing illegal in the vehicle. I had no firearms. I wasn't
wearing a police outfit. I had no blue lights," he says.
Now out on bond, he claims the young woman, who he says is also a personal friend, stands by his side of the story.
"She's completely apologetic to me. She's like, 'I'm so sorry. I had no idea it was you,'" he said.
Stoddard
claims that there are reports stating that he works for the popular
television show ‘Army Wives.' He says he is in no way associated with
the show.
ABC News 4 tried reaching out to the woman police call a
victim but Stoddard calls a friend. However, she has not been available
for comment.
For the charge of impersonating an officer a judge set Stoddard's bond at $25,000.
