Wilmington – The Delaware State Police are investigating the report of a police impersonator who performed a traffic stop on a female driver in late July, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said the incident, which was not immediately reported, occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2018, in the 500 block of Marsh Road in Wilmington.
The victim, a 26-year-old Newark woman advised that she was driving northbound on Marsh Road, just south of Washington Street, when she saw a vehicle with flashing blue lights directly behind her. After observing the lights she immediately pulled on to the right shoulder and came to a stop, at which time the trailing vehicle came to a stop directly behind her.
A subject then exited the vehicle and approached the victim at her driver’s side window. The subject began asking her why she was in the area and accused her of having drugs in her vehicle, according to Austin. The subject then opened the driver’s door, removed the victim from the vehicle and proceeded to frisk her, allegedly for drugs. The subject then did a search of the interior of the victim’s vehicle. After finishing the search he returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. The victim was not injured during the incident and no property was taken from her or the vehicle.
The suspect, who did not identify himself or claim to be with any agency, was described as a black male, bald head, with a muscular build, wearing a dark blue uniform, with a yellow stripe down each pant leg, said Austin. The suspect vehicle was described as a dark blue SUV with an all blue light bar on the roof and no other markings or signage.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Cpl. D. Hudak at Troop 1 by calling 302-660-4300. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
The Delaware State Police State would like to advise motorists who are being pulled over by a person in an unmarked vehicle or who believe may not be a police officer to follow a few safety tips:
Put on your flashers, drive the speed limit and call 911 from your cell phone. Tell the 911 dispatcher that you are concerned. If you do not have a cell phone, drive to a well-lit, busy area, such as the parking lot of a busy store.
Do not stop your vehicle or get out of your vehicle until a dispatcher can confirm you are being pulled over by a legitimate police officer.
If the dispatcher cannot confirm that you are being pulled over by a police officer, stay on the line with the dispatcher. Drive carefully to a safe place, such as a local police department.
If you are issued documents that may be suspicious, contact the issuing agency about their legitimacy.
Report anything that you believe to be suspicious or just does not seem right.
Trust Your Gut
See Something – Say Something