Cumberland County sheriff warns of impersonator

Douglas Simmons told investigators he was stopped for speeding by an unmarked gray Crown Victoria on Golfview Drive on Aug. 12. Simmons said the car had blue lights in the grill, just like a legitimate patrol car, and the driver was wearing a sheriff’s star badge on his belt.

When he saw a handgun on the dashboard of Simmons’ car, the impersonator said that he would have to confiscate it because Simmons had committed a weapons violation.

Simmons contacted the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office because he did not get a receipt of citation for the weapons violation. At that point, Simmons was informed that the man who performed the traffic stop was not employed by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

Simmons then reported the incident to the Hope Mills Police Department, which is currently investigating the case.

Authorities said drivers who are stopped for a traffic violation by an unmarked gray Crown Victoria should reduce their speed and drive to a well-lit and populated area before stopping.

Anybody with information about this incident is asked to call the Hope Mills Police Department at 910-425-4103 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.