Police: Man Posing as CIA Agent Arrested in Murrieta

A man who was allegedly driving a fake police car and exhibiting other signs of impersonating law enforcement when he was pulled over by Murrieta police is being held on $15,000 bail.

Nathon Charles Gomez, 39, of Corona was stopped by Murrieta police the night of Aug. 3 near Jackson Avenue and Chaco Canyon Road. He was initially directed to pull over for multiple vehicle code violations, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Phil Gomez.

"The vehicle looked a lot like a police car; it was was black and white and he had a light bar that was pointed out the front window," Gomez told Patch.

"He identified himself to the officer as a CIA agent but when the officer ran his name it came back with a warrant related to a pursuit in 2011."

Gomez—not related to the sergeant—was arrested during the stop on suspicion of multiple misdemeanors and felonies.

Based on the arrest warrant, the sergeant said the officer searched the suspect's vehicle. Allegedly found were a police vest, a fake CIA identification card with his photo on it, a police badge and a replica 9-millimeter handgun equipped with a silencer, he said.

Additionally, Murrieta police obtained a warrant to search Gomez' Corona residence.

"Detectives went to search his house where he lives with his mother," the sergeant said. More items allegedly used to impersonate law enforcement were found, he said.

Gomez was formally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records, to which he pleaded not guilty Aug. 28. He was expected to be arraigned on more charges Thursday that include failure to appear and vehicle code violations such as not having a proper fender and driving with a headlamp dangerous to other motorists, records showed.

He is being held at Southwest Detention Center near Murrieta.