INDIANTOWN, Fla. (CBS12) — Bogus deportation threats from a phony immigration agent resulted in an Indiantown man finding himself in jail early Thursday morning.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) explained that the confrontation that led to the suspect’s arrest began when the two victims were picking up workers on Southwest Little Indian Avenue. The pair told deputies the suspect approached them and claimed he was an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

However, the victims noted, the man had on regular clothing and was driving a regular truck. That raised their suspicions, and the victims drove off – only to be followed by the fake agent, the MCSO report continued.

“He had on pajama pants, a backwards hat and just a regular T-shirt,” said Martin County Sheriff's Office Major Ruben Romero.

The suspect’s truck allegedly tailed the victim’s minivan for several blocks and the chase ended up with the vehicles circling the parking lot of Hitchcock’s Grocery Store on Southwest Trail Drive until deputies arrived.

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The victims identified Jose Juan Lopez as the suspect and recounted their story to the deputies, the MCSO report stated. It noted that Lopez, 25, countered their claim by saying it was the other two men who were threatening him. He went on to admit making deportation threats but denied posing as an ICE agent.

He has since been booked into the Martin County Jail on a count of impersonating a federal agent.

Manuel Francisco was shopping at the grocery store Thursday afternoon and said the news is shocking.

”This is a really small town," Francisco said. "I wouldn’t expect nothing like that.”

Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies said they want residents, regardless of their immigration status, to feel comfortable reaching out in the event of a crime.

“Whether you’re undocumented or documented legal or not legal that doesn’t matter," Romero said. "If you’re a victim of a crime we want you to know we’re here to help”

Officials said the best way to identify law enforcement is by their sirens, uniforms and badge identification. If you can’t tell the real from the fake, just like in this case they encourage calling 911 dispatchers and continuing circling a high trafficked area until help is provided.

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