NARRATOR: The defendant is 18-year-old Brenden
Wysynski, who's charged with impersonating
a sheriff's deputy.
Six months earlier, Wysynski was driving an unmarked car
with a police siren when he pulled
over a driver for speeding.
Albuquerque police officer Danny Anzo
came upon the scen and thinking something
off about the situation, decided to check it out.
OFFICER ANZO: Can I talk to you for a minute?
Me?
OFFICER ANZO: Uh-huh.
Yes, sir.
OFFICER ANZO: Who do you work for?
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.
OFFICER ANZO: Oh, OK.
I know, I'm underequipped.
OFFICER ANZO: OK.
Do you have an ID with you?
I mean, this is-- this is all I got on me.
Like I said, I'm under--
I'm underequipped.
I was just heading over there to the courthouse.
OFFICER ANZO: To the courthouse?
For what?
To get my crap.
OFFICER ANZO: OK.
NARRATOR: The wannabe cop sticks to his story.
I know, it makes no sense.
I caught him going 120 down I-40.
NARRATOR: The officer has Wysynski hang around
while he checks on his story.
OFFICER ANZO: [inaudible].
NARRATOR: While he waits for a response,
Enzo casually chats with Wysynski, one officer
to sort of another.
OFFICER ANZO: I'm not here to mess with you, man.
It's just the thing is, yeah, he was speeding, dude.
You could have called it in.
And-- because if you get into shooting, you're screwed--
Right.
OFFICER ANZO: All right, man?
I-- I understand.
This, for starters, I know this looks really bad.
This looks really bad.
This screams wacker.
OFFICER ANZO: How long you been on?
About three years.
OFFICER ANZO: OK.
I've been on for, like, 13 years.
I'm not saying I'm perfect, but you need to be a little bit
more careful, all right? - Yes sir.
OFFICER ANZO: So just do me a favor.
Hang tight for a second, OK?
Yes sir.
NARRATOR: It sounds like the officer
might be letting him go.
Not so fast.
Anzo requests a supervisor from the Bernalillo Sheriff's Office
to come down to the scene.
In the meantime, he puts Wysynski
in the back of his cruiser.
OFFICER ANZO: Do you have anything on you, man?
Any weapons or anything?
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: Just my keys. OFFICER ANZO: OK.
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: Keys and wallet.
OFFICER ANZO: That's fine.
Just have a seat, all right?
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: All right.
NARRATOR: It looks like this bizarre game of good cop,
fake cop may be coming to an end, so Wysynski comes clean.
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: Can I talk to you real quick?
OFFICER ANZO: Yeah, give me one second.
What's up, man?
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: I'm all right.
I'm just going to be straight up honest with you.
I'm not a cop.
OFFICER ANZO: OK.
OK.
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: I'm just going to be [bleep] honest.
OFFICER ANZO: Where'd you get that badge from?
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: I bought it off of line.
Offline.
OFFICER ANZO: OK.
Do me a favor, stay in here, OK?
For a second.
NARRATOR: After discussing the strange situation
with his sergeant, Anzo makes the next move.
OFFICER ANZO: --he's in the back of my car.
Hey Brenden, step out of the vehicle for a second, man.
OK, face the vehicle.
At this point right now, you are being under arrest.
Do you understand?
[intense music]
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: [inaudible].
NARRATOR: Before heading downtown,
Wysynski sheds a few tears in the back seat.
[brenden crying]
OFFICER ANZO: So I need you to lean back a little bit.
Thank you.
OFFICER ANZO: I'll give you--
we'll give-- when we get to the substation, I'll give you--
we'll give her a call, OK?
NARRATOR: Wysynski is formally charged with impersonating
an officer, a misdemeanor, and a second officer
takes him off to jail.
POLICE OFFICER: Yeah, buddy.
Can't be pretending to be a cop.
BRENDEN WYSYNSKI: Yeah, I know.
I'm stupid.
POLICE OFFICER: Lesson learned, right?
NARRATOR: As they head downtown, the reality of the situation
kicks in for this counterfeit cop.
NARRATOR: Instead of fighting the charge,
Wysynski pleads no contest.
He's sentenced to one year of probation.
The judge also rules he can't carry any firearms or handcuffs
and must undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
This looks really bad.
This screams wacker.
OFFICER ANZO: Correct.
NARRATOR: As for the driver Wysynski pulled over,
he was, of course, free to go.