New Square man accused of stopping trooper

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New Square man accused of stopping trooper

By STEVE LIEBERMAN  

THE JOURNAL NEWS  

(Original publication: December 6, 2003)

A New Square man's attempt to impersonate a police officer backfired when he pulled over a car driven by an off-duty state trooper on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, state police said yesterday.  

With a police-type spotlight on his dashboard and his high beams flashing on and off, 22-year-old Shalom Gelbman is accused of forcing Trooper Seamus Lyons' car onto the grass shoulder at Exit 7 at 2 p.m. Wednesday.  

Lyons got out of his car, identified himself as an officer and turned the tables on Gelbman.  

Gelbman was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal impersonation, misdemeanors, and was cited for having unauthorized equipment on his dark blue Mercury Grand Marquis.  

The act of pulling over cars by non-law enforcement personnel is not only dangerous, but also against the law. State police Investigator Brendan Tumulty said Gelbman had no authority to have emergency lighting on the car or to stop vehicles.  

"His vehicle shouldn't have even been on the road," Tumulty said. "We're curious to see if anybody has had similar incidents with this car."  

The car had tinted windows, unauthorized lights, and a red-and-white strobe light attached to the dashboard, he said. The license plate is EMT DCW.  

Gelbman was given traffic summonses for the equipment, as well as for having improper license plates and driving without a registration and insurance.  

Tumulty said Gelbman was not clear with investigators about why he pulled Lyons' car over. One investigator said Gelbman told officers he wanted to scare the driver and get him out of the way.  

"If he used his lights to get other cars out of the way, we don't want that happening," Tumulty said. "We don't want him pulling people over, either."  

Gelbman could not be reached for comment yesterday. A telephone message was left at a number matching his address of 29 Lincoln Ave. in the phone book.  

Gelbman was released on $5,000 bail after being arraigned on the charges in Clarkstown Justice Court.  

Anyone who believes they were pulled over improperly by someone other than a police officer can call Tumulty at 845-364-0200.  

What an idiot, LOL

[CG206 29]

What was this guy thinking...especially if u look at the license plates on his car. Round of applause for this brilliant stunt.

[Oswegowind 17]

It wasn't that kid hunt was it???? Maybe he changed his name!!!!

[Truck4 48]

When Buffs go bad....

[HFD23 37]

wow, way to give any one who legally has red lights or blue lights a bad name. and same thing for EMT's who would have EMT on your plate's and pull cares over.. smart one..

[Oswegowind 17]

Doesn't EMT stand for Enforcement of Motorized Traffic ??????