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North Texas Women On Alert For Fake Cop

http://cbs11tv.com/local/local_story_276084810.html

(CBS 11 News) Police are searching for a man pretending to be one of them and that information as put women across North Texas on alert.

A 19-year-old reported a man dressed in a uniform pulled her over in Benbrook late Sunday night.

She said he was in a white car with flashing lights, which made her think he was an authentic police officer. The woman was sexually assaulted, the report stated.

According to the police report, the man told her to get out of the car and then inappropriately touched her.

"I think it's horrible," said concerned mother Joanna Anderson. "Women should be able to drive by themselves at night and be able to be protected."

Seems to me that there IS a way for them to be protected.

Col. Colt
Smith & Wesson
Gaston Glock
Etc.

If my wife was pulled over by such a scammer I would expect her to be doing two things: Calling 911 on her cell phone to confirm the officer's status, and readying her defense.

There has been a similar incident in Plano recently, but without the sexual assault.

Since this is an illegal detention after dark, with several multiplying factors, I don't think too many DAs or Grand Juries would mourn the image of such a predator lying bloody in the street.

This seems to be an ongoing theme in North Texas around the DFW area. I recall seeing such a scam happening when I lived there >20 years ago. If I recall correctly, police at that time suggested that women drive to the nearest police station or convenience store so that they would not be "in the middle of nowhere" for whatever occurred.

I like Jim's approach better, personally...

Mithras61 wrote:This seems to be an ongoing theme in North Texas around the DFW area. I recall seeing such a scam happening when I lived there >20 years ago. If I recall correctly, police at that time suggested that women drive to the nearest police station or convenience store so that they would not be "in the middle of nowhere" for whatever occurred.

I am sure the officer making the stop will be very understanding when the car continues to drive on a couple miles looking for a c-store.

I like Jim's response better too.

HOWEVER, if you think it is a cop...you are required to show your CHL....if you show your CHL to a fake cop (as it turns out) he first asks to secure your gun....and then where are you? If you shoot him and he turns out to be a real cop...you are in real trouble.

Unfortunately, this happened not too far from my house on an urban highway that my wife and son travel daily.

Big city crime creeps closer to our formerly semi-rural and quiet suburb every day. Not the same little town that I moved to 35 years ago to escape Ft. Worth's crime problems.

Here's some additional info...

According to the Ft. Worth Star Telegram...

When the "officer" pulled the victim over, he aimed a spotlight into the victims mirror and shined a "bright flashlight" into her eyes to help mask his identity. The victim could not tell if the vehicle had any official markings on it and could only tell that the man was wearing an "official looking" dark uniform and a gun belt.

This sounds like the same MO as most of the other similar fake stops that are happening all over the DFW area recently.

It makes you wonder how long before he takes his fantasies one step further.........

Doug.38PR wrote: HOWEVER, if you think it is a cop...you are required to show your CHL....if you show your CHL to a fake cop (as it turns out) he first asks to secure your gun....and then where are you? If you shoot him and he turns out to be a real cop...you are in real trouble.

This has always been my concern regarding a traffic stop, and it's the primary reason why I don't like the idea of having to surrender my weapon during a traffic stop.

The movie Magnum Force just crossed my mind on reading Venus Pax's post.

Rex B wrote:

Mithras61 wrote:This seems to be an ongoing theme in North Texas around the DFW area. I recall seeing such a scam happening when I lived there >20 years ago. If I recall correctly, police at that time suggested that women drive to the nearest police station or convenience store so that they would not be "in the middle of nowhere" for whatever occurred.

I am sure the officer making the stop will be very understanding when the car continues to drive on a couple miles looking for a c-store.

Actually, the police suggested that you slow down, turn on your emergency flashers and drive to the nearest c-store or police store front. I thought the same thing as you, but apparently it was considered acceptable so long as you indicated that you were indeed complying but wanted to be in a well-lit area with witnesses. As far as I know, it didn't seem to cause problems.

Mithras61 wrote:Actually, the police suggested that you slow down, turn on your emergency flashers and drive to the nearest c-store or police store front.

A friend of mine who did this ended up in a situation with backup called and told to get out of the vehicle slowly with her hands up. And she was hauling a horse trailer with horses in it. We know how often criminals use horse trailers for cover.

But if the police are aware of an impersonator and telling citizens to do this, it should be OK for the time being.

- Jim