Police Impersonator With Gun Searches Woman's Car, Steals Wallet In Aurora
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Aurora police have issued a warning to the public following a lengthy incident involving the possible impersonation of a police officer by a man with a gun and handcuffs.
According to Officer Diana Cooley with Aurora police, a woman was pulled over Sunday afternoon by a black, unmarked Dodge Challenger with dark-tinted windows while driving southbound on Interstate 225 from Interstate 70. The vehicle also had red and blue flashing lights on the dashboard.
"The victim, thinking she was being stopped by a police officer, pulled her vehicle to the side of the road," Cooley said in a statement. "The driver of the vehicle approached her window and demanded her driver's license without providing a reason for the stop."
The suspect then returned to the Challenger. Ten minutes later the suspect approached the victim once more and demanded her car keys.
"The victim complied and turned the keys over to the suspect at which point he returned to his vehicle for several more minutes before coming back to the victim's vehicle and ordering her to get out of the vehicle," Cooley said.
The victim, still believing the man to be a police officer, exited her car. While the suspect searched her car the victim noticed another person in the suspect's Challenger. After the suspect concluded searching the victim's car the suspect fled the scene with the victim's wallet and an electronic item.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, 25 to 30 years old and 5-foot-7. He was clean shaven with short brown hair and hazel eyes. The victim told police the man was wearing a dark uniform with nothing to identify him as with law enforcement. He was also wearing what looked to be weight lifting gloves.
Police said the suspect was also wearing a holstered handgun and a pair of handcuffs.
The passenger of the Challenger was described as a younger man wearing a similar dark uniform top.
Additional Information From The Aurora Police Department
Unmarked police vehicles are used by the Aurora Police Department and other law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Colorado. If you find yourself in a situation where you are being stopped by one and are not certain whether it is an actual police officer we recommend that you slow down, move to the right, turn on your turn signal, and pull into a heavily populated and well lit (if at night) parking lot. You can always call 911 to determine whether or not an actual law enforcement officer has stopped you. All Aurora Police Officers are required to carry their badge and identification card while on-duty.
Anyone who might have witnessed this incident or has information about this case is asked to contact Detective Graw at (303) 739-1838.
