Police Officer's Son Arrested for Dressing as Cop, Firing Gun, Taking Cruiser for Joyride

The son of a Fairfax County police officer is facing charges of dressing as a police officer and taking his father's cruiser for a high-speed joyride with emergency lights on after firing a gun.

James Michael Puebla Berling, 27, of Centreville, was spotted in the cruiser on March 16 at about 1 o'clock in the morning, according to The Washington Post, which cited Virginia State Police.

The cruiser was speeding down Route 29 in  Centreville with its lights flashing when it was spotted by a Virginia State trooper, the Post reported.

The cruiser stopped and Berling an a passenger fled on foot, according to the paper. The trooper was able to detain the passenger, identified as 18-year-old Caitlin Lee of Centrevilled. Berling was caught shortly after and was found wearing his father’s uniform shirt, authorities said.

Fairfax County police had received reports of shots fired in the area earlier in the evening, police said. When they investigated, police said, they determined that Berling had fired a weapon inside his home.

Fairfax County Police Officer James Berling was out of town when the cruiser was taken and is not facing any disciplinary action. The weapon fired inside the home was not a service weapon, according to the paper.

The younger Berling is facing charges of unauthorized use of vehicle, reckless handling of a firearm and impersonating a law enforcement officer. Lee is facing charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.