El Dorado County residents warned about alleged deputy impersonator
Authorities are warning El Dorado County residents about a recent incident where a person was pulled over by an apparent law enforcement impersonator.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened back on Feb. 3 between 8 and 9 p.m.
A driver reported that they were near China Hill Road and Highway 49 when they noticed a black and white SUV flashing red and blue lights at them.
"She had a vehicle, which was described as kind of a black and white SUV, come up behind her. It had red and blue lights in the dashboard. And so she thought that she was legitimately being pulled over," said Sgt. Kyle Parker.
Believing it was a legitimate traffic stop, the driver pulled over. However, the person from the other vehicle then allegedly tried to reach in through the driver's window to get them out.
The pulled-over driver was able to use some bear spray and got away, the sheriff's office says.
Deputies had few distinguishing details about the alleged impersonator. He was described as a white man in his 30s, about 6 feet tall with facial hair.
"The main thing is just for the community to be aware," said Parker.
The sheriff's office notes that their deputies will always be readily identifiable, even if they may sometimes use unmarked vehicles. Further, deputies say California law stipulates that deputies need to tell the driver the reason for a stop.
Real officers during a traffic stop must clearly identify themselves and tell the driver why they are being pulled over.
If a driver sees an unmarked vehicle trying to stop them and it seems suspicious, deputies say you can:
- Verify officer is legitimate through their badge or credentials
- Turn on your hazard lights and continue to a well lit and public location before pulling over
- Call 911 immediately to verify with dispatch it is a legitimate traffic stop
The El Dorado County Sherriff's Office says this is the only case of a cop impersonation reported to their office so far.
