The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department said today that Heather Speicher was lying when she said was pulled over by a police impersonator and sexually assaulted on Jan. 5.
Speicher, 27, of Fort Collins helped police with a sketch of the alleged fake cop before investigators concluded her story didn’t add up, the agency said in announcing Speicher’s arrest.
She was being held in the Larimer County Jail on $2,500 bond this afternoon on a felony charge of attempting to influence a public official.
The Sheriff’s Department did not say what led them to believe Speicher’s story was untrue, and added that no further information would be released.
Court records show Speicher has had several previous run-ins with law enforcement, including pleading guilty to driving while abilities impaired last July in Larimer County. She was sentenced to a year of probation, in addition to fines and community service.
In 2004 she pleaded guilty to theft between $100 and $500 in Greeley and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months of probation, according to court records.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department will seek to recoup the costs of “the misdirection of valuable, limited law enforcement resources,” the agency said in a statement this afternoon.
The department stated its investigation had been extensive, involving six investigators and two lab personnel after Speicher’s allegation.
“While this report proved to be false, incidents of this nature do occur,” the Sheriff’s Department stated.
“Motorists are still reminded to be cautious when stopped by an unmarked or uneasily identified vehicle.”
People who should turn on their flashers on and drive to a well-lit area near other people, then call 911 to verify the identity of the officer.
Motorists also should then stay in their vehicles until an officer in a marked vehicle arrives.
