UPDATE: Driver of unmarked ATF vehicle prompts complaint, investigation

UPDATE:

Anchorage police have identified the federal agency that owns the unmarked vehicle as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

APD spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said a citizen complaint on the driver’s conduct has been forwarded to the ATF and the agency will be conducting a personnel investigation regarding the incident.

Anchorage police issued the following statement Monday night:

"Initially, APD was concerned that the vehicle may have been impersonating that of law enforcement when the reported license plate was not registered and issued an alert to citizens for concern of their safety. However, after conducting an investigation, today it was determined the vehicle belonged to ATF and was conducting official business at the time of the alleged conduct. ATF will be conducting a personnel investigation and APD is fully cooperating with this agency in their investigation."

ORIGINAL STORY:

Anchorage police have confirmed that the driver of an unmarked white Ford SUV originally thought to be impersonating an officer on the Glenn Highway is in fact a member of a law enforcement agency.

“APD has been able to confirm the vehicle is assigned to a law enforcement agency. The agency acknowledged the vehicle was on official business at the time of the incident,” Anchorage police wrote in a statement Monday.

A citizen called police last week to report that the white unmarked SUV, equipped with red and blue interior dash lights, had attempted to pull him over on the Glenn Highway at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“As the motorist yielded, the driver sped past him, laughed, and flipped him the middle finger,” police wrote at the time. “The complainant observed this occur three other times with the same results.”

Police said they obtained a photo of the vehicle’s license plate but were unable to find any matches from a computer check. On Monday, the department announced that the incident had been investigated, and the vehicle was in fact assigned to a law enforcement agency.

“Concerns from the public have been forwarded to the agency,” APD said Monday.

Anchorage Police would not say what law enforcement agency the vehicle is associated with, and said all questions would be forwarded to the agency in question.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.