May 9, 2025
Chelan County, Wash– On Thursday, May 8, 2025, at approximately 6:40pm, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) received a call stating a male driver of an unmarked Ford Crown Victoria attempted to make a traffic stop on the Chumstick highway near Leavenworth, WA using red and blue lights mounted in the dash area. As the reporting party attempted to pull over, the Sliver Crown Victoria passed the reporting party. Approximately 10 miles later on Eastbound US 2 near Dryden, the same vehicle attempted to pull the reporting party over a second time. They were able to take a photograph of the vehicle and report the incident to the WSP.
At approximately 7:01pm, a Moses Lake trooper was able to observe what was believed to be the correct vehicle and began to follow it. The Crown Victoria matched the description as well as the temporary plate. The suspect vehicle turned west on White Trail Rd. and was later detained at approximately 7:16pm on Rd. 5 at Rd. R, approximately five miles outside of Quincy.
The male driver identified as Ronald Cowin (62) of Spokane, WA was cooperative during the investigation and was taken into custody with no incident and later charged with Criminal Impersonation 2nd Degree and booked into the Chelan County Regional Jail.
There are no additional details available at this time.
The Washington State Patrol would like to remind the motoring public that while police impersonation is a very rare event, if a motorist ever suspects they are being pulled over by someone other than a commissioned police officer:
• Stay calm and do not try to flee from the vehicle attempting to pull you over.
• Put on your flashers and if possible, drive at or below the speed limit to a secure, public, and well-lit location.
• Call 911 immediately, report your location and concerns, describe the vehicle attempting to pull you over, and follow the directions of the 911 operator.
• Do not stop your vehicle or get out of your vehicle until the 911 operator can confirm you are being pulled over by a legitimate law enforcement officer.
• If the 911 operator is unable to confirm you are being pulled over by a legitimate law enforcement officer, stay on the line, ask for police assistance, and drive carefully to a safe location – like a local police department or fire station.
• If the 911 operator confirms the legitimacy of the vehicle attempting to stop you, pull over at a safe place and calmly explain the reasons for your earlier concerns to the law enforcement officer. They will address your concerns, readily identify themselves, and let you know the reason for the original contact.
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