WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Weld County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a police impersonator involved in numerous incidents of targeting and pulling over female drivers.
The incidents have happened near the town of Erie on both the Weld and Boulder sides of the county line.
The suspect is described as a clean-shaven white man, about 6 feet tall, with average-length brown hair. He’s been described as wearing a black, button-down, short-sleeve shirt, black pants and a utility belt with a baton on his hip.
The most recent incident occurred shortly after midnight Friday when deputies responded to northbound Interstate 25 and Erie Parkway on a report of a suspicious person. The female victim told deputies she was just pulled over by a man driving a black sedan, outfitted with red and blue lights mounted either inside near the top windshield or on the roof of the car.
“It happened late Thursday night into early Friday morning,” WCSO deputy Joe Moylan said. “The caller told us that she had been pulled over by a dark colored sedan.”
“She was approached by a white man, standing about six feet tall, average build, brown hair,” investigators said.
The woman said the suspect asked her why she thought he had pulled her over and then asked for her license and registration. The woman noticed the suspect wasn’t wearing a badge and asked why he didn’t have it.
The suspect told the woman the badge was in his vehicle. The suspect invited the woman to step out of her car and to come back to his vehicle to see his badge. The woman then said she was going to call 911 to get his badge number. The suspect then returned to his car and drove away.
The call matches closely to two other incidents on July 26 and July 27 in the Erie Police Department’s jurisdiction. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a similar incident that occurred last week.
WCSO encourages residents to call 911 if they think they are being pulled over by a suspicious vehicle to confirm it’s a legitimate peace officer. Switch your hazards on to acknowledge the stop and pull over in a well-lit area. Ask dispatchers to remain on the line for the initial contact. Be sure to get a good description of the person and the vehicle, including a license plate number.
“They’ll be able to tell you whether the person behind you is a legit peace officer, or not,” Moylan said.
“You can ask them to stay on the line with you for that initial contact even if it is a real stop.”
If police can catch this man, the penalty for impersonating a peace officer is hefty. That charade could cost him between 12 and 18 months in prison.
Anyone with any information about the suspect or the vehicle is asked to call Deputy Chris Dalzell at 970-400-4508.
Tips can remain anonymous and be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at crimeshurt.com.