Police in Blanchard are warning women to be alert after reports that a man impersonating a police officer has been attempting to pull over female driversin a false traffic stop.
Reports say at least three women have been pulled over by the fake cop, but when another vehicle approached, the man got back in his vehicle and droveaway.
Police say all three incidents happened around the same time of night--shortly before midnight--and in the same rural area of Blanchard.
The women tell police that the man was driving an "unmarked" Chevy Tahoe with a single red flashing light on top. One woman says that the single lightmade her suspicious, but stopped anyway, thinking since Blanchard is a small town, she thought its force might use that type of light. Blanchard policeChief Stacy White says, "Nobody uses those types of lights anymore."
Still leery, the woman opened her window only a crack. She became increasingly suspicious when she noticed that the officer was not in uniform--wearinga black shirt, jeans, and a baseball hat--and he offered no badge or ID. He did have handcuffs, but no firearm. When he asked for her identification,she provided only her driver's license number.
At that point, the man pulled out a cell phone to "check the number," and she saw that he had a map app open on the phone. She found that to be unusual,thinking that a Blanchard police officer would not likely need a map to run his patrol route.
The headlights of an approaching vehicle startled the man, who left the scene.
Blanchard police say that in many cases, people who impersonate are simply on a "power trip." They like being able to force someone to do what they want--inthis case, feeling like they have the authority to pull someone over. Still, since police have not yet identified the suspect, they do not know whathis motives are. Authorities find it disturbing that someone is targeting women and asking for their identifying information late at night on a secludedstretch of road.
Police say that any time a driver is concerned for his or her safety in pulling over in a remote or dimly lit area, it is permissible to turn on one'shazards and drive slowly to a safer area.
Additionally, they say that all Blanchard police vehicles are equipped with GPS, so a simple phone call to police can quickly determine whether or notthe person attempting to pull over a driver is a legitimate police officer.
Blanchard police say all of their officers wear full navy uniforms and are required to present their badge and information at the beginning of a trafficstop. They note that state law requires anyone conducting traffic stops from an unmarked vehicle to be in full uniform.
Police are cautioning the public to be aware, and they note that they have increased patrols in the area.
