The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office is warning the public about a police impersonator who pulled over a woman and touched her inappropriately. They also are offering tips for how citizens can avoid becoming a victim of one of these predators.
A woman reported that she was stopped by a man posing as a police officer early Sunday morning, in the 5300 block of South Laredo Street.
Authorities say the impersonator used flashing red and blue lights to signal the woman to pull over. He then approached the car and asked her to step outside.
After questioning her about drinking alcohol, the man had her perform a “breath test” in a foot-long plastic tube. The woman says the impersonator then excessively frisked and searched her before telling her she was free to go.
The suspect is described a Hispanic man, standing about 6 feet tall. He has a medium build, dark crew-cut hair, dark eyes, and has a long scar that extends across his hairline to his left eye. He was dressed in what appeared to be a blue uniform without any shoulder patches or name plate. He wore a gold star on his chest and had no gun belt. He drove a blue-gray compact car with no markings.
The sheriff’s office offers the following tips for people who are pulled over by an unmarked car or a plain-clothes officer:
-If you are signaled to pull over by an unmarked police car, especially at night, and you are not sure the person is a police officer, put on your hazard flashers and dome light, and slowly drive to the closest well-lit public area.
-If you are still unsure, ask that a uniformed officer, or marked car also respond to the scene.
-Officers are aware that people are anxious during traffic stops, so they should be patient if you request a marked car or uniformed officer.
-Ask for identification.
