Cops catch Ocoee man impersonating police officer

WINTER GARDEN – An Ocoee man was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 26, after using red and blue strobe lights typically used by police to deceive surrounding traffic into believing he was a legitimate cop. 

According to an arrest report, Albert Michael Dolan, 53, used the lights while driving his Dodge Charger to move unimpeded through traffic on Stoneybrook West Parkway and Winter Garden-Vineland Road.

The deception continued until Dolan drove up behind Winter Garden police officer Cody Hudson’s patrol vehicle. After he passed Hudson, Hudson noticed Dolan’s vehicle displayed a decorative license plate cover, which the officer knew was not standard for undercover police vehicles. 

Given his suspicion, Hudson began to follow the car, which had been traveling 66 mph in a 35-mph speed zone. During the pursuit, Hudson noticed an object fly out of the passenger’s side window — an object which was later discovered to be a glass cup containing a pink alcoholic drink. 

Officer Hudson then checked the tag number in the police database system and discovered that the vehicle was privately owned and not registered to any governmental agency. 

When Hudson pulled over Dolan’s car, Dolan exited his vehicle and began approaching Hudson's police car, prompting Hudson to order Dolan back to his own vehicle. 

In response, Dolan yelled he was a cop who worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. He then repeatedly asked Hudson to follow him home. 

Dolan did not have any form of identification on him, and police dispatch confirmed there was no record of a certified law-enforcement officer with the name of Albert Dolan in the state of Florida. 

Officer Hudson then instructed Dolan to sit on the ground and detected the smell of alcohol emanating from his breath. Upon questioning, Dolan revealed he recently had consumed two cans of beer. 

The officer had Dolan perform several field sobriety exercises, during which Dolan showed signs of impairment. He was arrested and refused to submit to a breath test when transported to a DUI testing center. He was charged with driving recklessly and driving under the influence.