A 26-year-old Ceres man was arrested for impersonating a police officer on Sunday and his female companion went to jail on drug charges.

At 1:48 a.m., Officer Eric Gallegos was flagged down in the 1300 block of Morgan Road by a man who pointed out a dark blue Crown Victoria equipped with a light bar on the dash that was activated and spotlights. This vehicle was parked in the Quick Stop parking lot in Ceres. The man said that he was driving home when he saw an occupant driving and shining a spotlight on homes. The driver of the Crown Victoria, Jacob Perales, 26, of Ceres, spotlighted the victim and identified himself as a police officer. The man didn’t believe Perales and followed the car around the neighborhood. At one point Perales got behind the victim’s vehicle and activated his dash mounted clear strobe lights to simulate a traffic stop. This is when victim flagged down Officer Gallegos. 

Initially Officer Gallegos believed the car to be a police vehicle but upon further inspection determined it was not.

Officer Gallegos contacted Perales and passenger, Haley Horn, 28, of Ceres. Perales denied trying to impersonate an officer. 

Because Perales was on active searchable probation, Officer Gallegos found a security uniform and badge, a pellet gun, two radios, night vision goggles, bear spray and a wooden baton. Officer Gallegos located a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and a meth pipe in the glove compartment. Horn claimed ownership of the methamphetamine and pipe, netting her a charge of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Perales faces charges of impersonating a police officer and possession of a billy club.