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 A 53-year-old man accused of impersonating a police officer has reached a deal with prosecutors.
Michael D. Diercks has entered an Alford plea, which allows him to maintain his innocence while conceding there is enough evidence for a jury to convict him.
Tuesday's deal calls for the charge against him to be suspended for one year, at which time it will be dismissed if no similar violations are committed.
The criminal complaint in the case says a New Ulm woman told authorities that last fall a man in dark-colored SUV pulled her over while she was a driving and told her to slow down.
The man was wearing a badge around his neck and his SUV was equipped with emergency lights.
Court records show Diercks told investigators he had a Department of Justice badge because he was authorized to carry a gun.
He also told investigators Sleepy Eye's former police chief had given him permission to add emergency lights to his vehicle and back up city officers - a claim the chief denies.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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