Parkville Man Arrested, Charged with Impersonating Police Officer

A Parkville man was arrested late last month after he appeared to be impersonating a police officer, Baltimore County police announced on Thursday.

At 4 a.m. Jan. 19, a patrol officer working in the Parkville precinct stopped a silver 2006 Ford Crown Victoria for speeding and found the vehicle's driver wearing a Virginia State Police uniform, according to an iWatch community crime alert released by police.

During the stop, the officer determined that the driver, identified as 59-year-old Derek John Propalis of the 2900 block of Garnet Road, was not and had never been a Virginia State trooper, the release stated.

Propalis' vehicle had been modified to have "emergency lights, a laptop computer, and spotlight, siren with public address system, and a video monitoring system," although the monitoring system and the laptop were not working, according to the release.

Detectives believe Propalis may have conducted police activities while he impersonated a police officer.

Anyone who encountered Propalis impersonating a police officer is asked to contact the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-307-2020.

A search warrant served at Propalis' home revealed several uniforms from various police agencies, complete with badges. Allegedly found during the search were Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Maryland State Police, Minneapolis Police, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, and the United States Marine Corps Military Police uniforms, the release stated.

Police also recovered real and replica weapons, ammunition, gun belts, pepper spray, inert hand grenades, marijuana and radios in his home.

Propalis is being held without bail, but is currently on home detention, according to the release.