Fake cop wearing anti-ICE hat tries to pull over unmarked police car, MN cops say

A Minnesota man is accused of impersonating a police officer while harassing a real officer in an unmarked squad car on a highway, leading to a bizarre roadside confrontation, authorities say.

Luke A. Reuter, 47, is facing charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and impersonating a peace officer, according to a criminal complaint filed Sept. 12 in Hennepin County.

An officer with the Maple Grove Police Department was driving on Interstate 94 at 9:40 a.m. Sept. 11, when investigators say a vehicle driven by Reuter began tailgating the officer, who was driving at the 60-mph speed limit, the complaint said. The officer was in uniform, but driving an unmarked police cruiser.

A few moments later, Reuter accelerated and changed lanes “as if to cut (the officer) off,” and the officer flashed his lights “and stated ‘slow down,’” before turning his lights back off, officials said.

Further down the highway, investigators say Reuter pulled up alongside the officer while “holding an object in his hand,” and the officer sped up to get away because he didn’t know what the object was. Reuter drove up to the unmarked car again, pointing a cell phone at the officer, then cut him off and slowed down in front of him, authorities said.

The officer took an exit off the highway in an attempt to “get away from the vehicle or to initiate a traffic stop,” the complaint read. Reuter followed and the officer stopped and radioed for backup.

Reuter pulled up behind the officer, a red light shining from the driver’s side of his vehicle, police said. Then he got out, wearing an anti-ICE hat reading “(expletive) ICE,” and started walking toward the officer, according to the complaint.

“Defendant stated he had a body camera while pointing a cell phone at (the officer) as if he was conducting a traffic stop,” the complaint said.

The officer told Reuter he was under arrest, and he returned to his car to get away, police said, though the officer blocked his escape three times before he managed to flee the scene. At one point, officials say Reuter nearly hit the officer with his car.

Investigators said they discovered that, during the incident, Reuter called 911 and said he’d just had a run-in with a fake police officer, and that the fake was the officer he’s accused of harassing.

Police located Reuter at his home in Inver Grove Heights and arrested him the same day, according to the complaint.

Inside Reuter’s car, investigators said they found numerous red and blue lights, a “police-style” flashlight, “as well as a rearview mirror-mounted dash camera with cords and four interior LED light bars with remote and cords.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Fake cop wearing anti-ICE hat tries to pull over unmarked police car, MN cops say."