Pennsylvania Man Pretends to be Undercover Cop to Avoid DWI Arrest: Police

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.– A 23-year-old drunk driver on Thanksgiving pretended to be an undercover Pennsylvania police officer to avoid a DWI arrest, authorities said.

The man identified himself as Shawn Potter and said that he was an undercover officer for the Pennsylvania State Police and the Scranton Police Department, Hackettstown Sgt. Darren Tynan said.

Potter was actually Luis Blass, Jr., a Pocono Summit, Pa. resident, who is not a police officer, according to Tynan.

According to Tynan, the officer who pulled the vehicle over smelled the odor of alcohol coming from the driver. The passenger, Jessie Dawson, 22, of Scotrun, Pa., had an open container of Budweiser, Tynan said.

Blass also had a handbag containing two clear plastic baggies with an undisclosed controlled dangerous substance inside, Tynan said.

He was arrested and charged with CDS possession, impersonating a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing false information to law enforcement, DWI, careless driving, possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, improper lamps and improper safety glass, according to the sergeant.

Blass is being held in the Warren County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail, Tynan said.

The passenger was charged with an open container violation, said Tynan.

The Mansfield Twp K-9 unit assisted.

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