Loving Police Chief Frank Methola has been charged with impersonating a police officer after conducting a traffic stop outside of his jurisdiction, according to the sheriff’s department.
Deputy Chris Trujillo with the Valencia County Sheriff’s Department said that Methola was suspended pending an investigation, KRQE reported.
“The deputy is on suspension for a prior incident, but like I said, it’s under internal affairs investigation, in addition to actually investigating the crash from state police,” Trujillo said.
He referred to the fact Methola was a part of two collisions in 2009 and 2010 where police vehicles were totaled and is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Dec. 20.
According to the Daily Beast, Methola tried to stop a Ford F-250 in Carlsbad, about 12 miles from Loving, in August.
The motorist recognized Methola and told him that he didn't have lawful authority to pull people over in Carlsbad, with Methola proceeding to tase and detain him but not issue any charges or citations, KRQE reported.
The news outlet is reporting that Methola is being charged with impersonating a police officer and battery by the prosecuting attorney.
The Daily Beast reported that the incident happened in August when Methola attempted to pull over an unnamed driver in a Ford F-250 for an unknown reason in a city that was 12 miles away from Loving.
