Women beware: Fake cop pulls over woman on I-10

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Photo credit WWL - DT

A man dressed in a dark blue uniform, a badge, a police utility belt and driving a black Dodge Charger with red/blue lights stopped a woman on I-10 Sunday night on the Bonne Carre Spillway.  But he wasn't a police officer.

Update: Reports of fake cop spread after Spillway incident

the describes the alleged impersonator as a medium built white man about 200-pounds with brown shaved hair.  The victim says the man had a large Chinese symbol tattoed on his the back of his neck.  

The man told the woman he pulled her over for speeding.  He then claimed he smelled marijuana and removed the woman from her vehicle and searched the cabin.  

When the woman questioned the way the man was rifling through her cabin, she says he got back in his car and left the scene.  

St. Charles Sheriff's are actively looking for the suspect and asking the public for help.  If you have any information you're asked to call Sheriff's Detective Kevin Tennison at 985-783-1135.  

Meanwhile Sheriff Gregory Champagne would like the public to know, if you have any questions about the legitimacy of an emergency vehicle with no markings pulling you over, consider a few options before stopping:  
  • Slow down, make sure you are in the right lane if traveling on a multilane roadway, and utilize your emergency flashers so that the operator of the unmarked emergency vehicle knows you see them.  
  • Call 911 and inform the dispatcher of where you are.  Often, they will be able to confirm ifthe unmarked emergency vehicle is an actual police officer attempting to pull you over.  
  • If possible, find a populated public area to pull over, such as a gas station, business parking lot, or somewhere where there will be a potential for security cameras and witnesses.