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Suspect Vehicle Investigated In Previous Police Impersonation Cases

By Melissa Garcia

DENVER (CBS4)- Police in Denver are investigating whether a suspect driver and passenger are linked to previous police impersonation incidents.

Officers pulled over a maroon-colored Ford Crown Victoria shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday near Louisiana Avenue and South Jason Street.

The man and woman inside the police-style vehicle were dressed head to toe as security officers. Witnesses said the vehicle was equipped with emergency lights in the rear window and a police-style radio antenna mounted on the trunk.

Denver Police Impersonation 5 (COURTESY AuroraNews1.com - ColoradoNews1.com)
(credit: Aurora News 1)

A Denver police spokesperson said investigators were working to determine whether the vehicle, its driver, and passenger, were connected to a police impersonation robbery that occurred in Northwest Denver on February 12.

Officers detained the two for questioning and towed the Crown Victoria to a police impound lot. As of Saturday afternoon, no charges had been filed and neither party was arrested.

Denver Police Impersonation 7 (COURTESY AuroraNews1.com - ColoradoNews1.com)
(credit: Aurora News 1)

The Crown Victoria matches the description of the fake cop car used last week in a brazen attack near 38th and Sheridan.

In that case, police posers pulled the driver out of his car at gunpoint, roughed him up and took the money from his wallet.

Police said the suspects shoved the victim back into his car and slammed his head into the windshield before taking off.

Denver Police Impersonation 11 (COURTESY AuroraNews1.com - ColoradoNews1.com)
(credit: Aurora News 1)

One day later, a couple of police impersonators tried to pull someone over near Kentucky and Ogden.

The would-be victim in that case refused to pull over and instead called 9-1-1. Police said that was exactly the right thing to do.

Concerned drivers are encouraged to call 9-1-1 to verify that the person making the traffic stop is a real police officer.

The Denver Police Department has issued a list of tips to avoid police impersonators.

Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.

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