Deputies: Man stops car in Hudson to search for terrorists

Joseph Tarochione became suspicious when he saw the car's driver driving erratically and nearly striking two cars and a pedestrian. His suspicion grew when he saw the Ontario license plate.

"A guy from out of the country has no business driving and terrorizing people the way he did it," Tarochione said.

Tarochione, 73, of Homosassa, called the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to report his concern, but deputies turned their attention on him when they got to the scene.

Tarochione was arrested and charged Tuesday afternoon with impersonating a law enforcement officer. He was later released from the Land O' Lakes Jail on $5,000 bond.

When he called 911, Tarochione told the dispatcher his name was classified information, according to the arrest report. A deputy who arrived at the scene said Tarochione told him he was in Special Forces and assigned to search for terrorists in the area, the arrest report said.

Tarochione allegedly pulled over the car and told deputies he needed to search the car for a bomb. He called 911 to ask that a deputy be dispatched to a parking lot on U.S. 19 to assist him, an arrest report said.

Tarochione said the driver of the car he pulled over must be a terrorist because of the foreign license plate, the report said.

"I think I told them to bring a dog," said Tarochione after he was released from jail. "That he could have – he's from out of the country – he could have bombs or drugs in it."

Tarochione was armed with a .22 magnum handgun and a .22-caliber long-rifle revolver, the report said. In his vehicle was a 16-gauge shotgun and "lots of ammunition," the report said.

When deputies asked him to give them the weapons, Tarochione refused. He said the deputies struck him twice with a baton when he refused to hand over the weapons.

"If I reached for it, they could decide I was drawing," Tarochione said. "I was protecting myself."

The arrest report does not name the motorist.