© Similar vehicle to the officer impersonator
Sketch of officer impersonatorPHOENIX (CBS5) -
Authorities are looking for a man impersonating police after he pulled over and handcuffed a woman in Phoenix.
Phoenix police spokesman Officer James Holmes said the victim was driving on Grand Avenue at the intersection of 19th Avenue and McDowell Road on July 13, at approximately 8 a.m. when she said a vehicle with red and blue dome-type dashboard lights was flashing in her rear view mirror. She stopped when she found a safe place to pull over.
"She immediately believed that she was being pulled over by a police officer," Holmes said.
The victim said the man was wearing a tan "Polo" shirt and khaki pants. He had no visible badge, weapon or any other law enforcement identifier.
According to police, the suspect identified himself as a sheriff's deputy and scolded the woman about her driving and told her she did not pull over fast enough. The suspect ordered her out of her vehicle and demanded her ID. The suspect then placed the victim in handcuffs and told he to go to the back of the vehicle.
The suspect returned to his car, telling the victim he was going to do a background check on her. When the suspect returned, he told her he was giving her a "warning" and that she had warrants. He let her go and the woman called Phoenix police.
"At the right time, anyone can fall for something like this," Holmes said.
The suspect is described as white, in his mid-40s, 5'11'' and 220 pounds with short brown hair. He has a moustache and a medium to light complexion. His vehicle is a black, 90s model possible Crown Victoria with dash lights.
Anyone with information concerning the suspect and his actions are asked to call Silent Witness at (480) W-I-T-N-E-S-S.
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