Police Impersonator Tells Gas Station Clerk Money In Register Looks Counterfeit

DENVER (CBS4) - Police in Denver would like the public's help identifying a man who they say posed as an undercover police officer.

According to police, on Feb. 16 at 10:40 p.m. a man entered the Bradley Gas Station located at 5100 West Dartmouth Avenue and "convinced the clerk that he was an undercover Aurora police officer."

Police are worried this incident was a test run for bigger crimes. Residents in Denver's Bear Valley neighborhood are on alert.

"I come here a lot, it's like our community. It's pretty scary," said neighbor Jessica Santacruz.

According to Sonny Jackson with Denver police, the man took off his jacket and showed the clerk his bulletproof vest and an Aurora Police Department business card. He told the clerk a $20 bill he saw in the cash register looked like a counterfeit note, asked to see the bill, and then took it as evidence and left.

Santacruz said, "feels less safe because you don't know who to believe anymore, or trust."

Jackson agrees, and said, "Yeah, we're concerned. Because you don't know where they'll stop."

Another neighbor named Scott wondered if the damage has already been caused, "That's something we rely on -- the police. When that's broken or scarred in some way it scars everybody.

Jackson told CBS4 police are concerned but not sure if the man has struck elsewhere.

Additional Information From The Denver Police Department

Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.