Felon Arrested for Impersonating Edmonds Police, Armed in Bremerton

Michael A. Scaletta-Teates, a 49-year-old convicted felon from Lacey, was arrested in Bremerton for impersonating an off-duty Edmonds police detective at an active crime scene. He arrived in an unmarked Ford Explorer equipped with activated blue police lights, wearing body armor labeled "POLICE" and "SWAT," and carrying a metallic Edmonds Police badge. Despite claiming to be an Edmonds detective, an investigation revealed he was actually a security guard for a nearby business and had been performing unauthorized law enforcement acts in the downtown area. When taken into custody, Scaletta-Teates was found to be armed with a firearm and in possession of a large amount of police equipment. He was booked into Kitsap County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal impersonation and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Authorities are urging anyone who may have had suspicious encounters with Scaletta-Teates to contact the Bremerton Police Department, and they advise the public to verify officers’ identities by asking for badge numbers and calling 911 if there are doubts about an officer's legitimacy.