Fayetteville woman thwarts police impersonator
Police said a man impersonating a police officer tried to pull over woman on the side of the road in Fayetteville Wednesday morning.
Posted — UpdatedAuthorities said the man was driving a dark blue Chevrolet Blazer. The incident occurred near the intersection of Old Wilmington Road and Eastern Boulevard.
Fayetteville police spokesman Dan Grubb said the man pulled close to the back of the woman’s car and flashed three blue lights in his dashboard.
When the woman did not stop, police said the man got more aggressive.
The woman sensed something wasn’t right and called 911. Police did not have a record of an officer working a stop in the area and dispatched an officer to the scene.
“The dispatcher led her to a well lit parking lot,” Grubb said.
Officers canvassed the area but did not find the suspect, who was described as a middle-aged white man with short hair.
Police said the woman, who was not identified by police, did the right thing by contacting authorities.
“She did everything like you are supposed to,” Grubb said.
Authorities said anyone who with concerns about the identity of a police officer should follow the following safety tips:
- Look for obvious signs, such as a marked police car and some type of police uniform.
- If you’re still not sure, ask to see the officer's credentials.
- You can call 911 to verify that a police officer is actually the person stopping you. Authorities suggest doing this when you are being stopped by an unmarked car or if the officer is not in uniform. Many traffic officers drive unmarked cars, but should be in uniform
- Pull over in a well lit area and if you have to travel some distance to get to that area, put on your flashers, call 911 and let the dispatcher know what you are doing.
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