Law enforcement agencies have been alerted to a possible “blue light bandit” operating in northeastern North Carolina.
The Town of Plymouth Police Department reported on their Facebook page Tuesday morning they received the report of a possible impostor officer.
WITN-TV reports an older model white car, possibly a Ford Taurus, with blue lights on the dash pulled over a woman on U.S. 64 near Monroe Street around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The suspect was described as a tall white male, who is bald with a short red beard and wearing all brown clothing. The woman said he was carrying a firearm.
When the woman asked to see a badge, the man drove off. His vehicle was last spotted on U.S. 64 headed west towards Williamston.
The department shared safety tips about what to do if you are stopped by an unmarked vehicle with flashing blue lights.
- If you are in a dark area and do not feel safe, turn on your hazard lights, and call 911 on your cell phone and confirm that there is an actual officer attempting to stop you.
- If you don’t have a cell phone, slow down, turn on your hazard lights and stop at the first well lit area.
- All Plymouth officers are required to display their badge during enforcement actions and identify themselves by name and department. No real officer will have a problem providing reasonable identifications upon request.
- It is completely permissible to record the traffic stop, as long as it does not stop you from complying with the officers instructions. All Plymouth police officers wear bodycams that record their actions.
- If there is a question in your mind that the person that has stopped you is not a law enforcement officer, ask for another officer to respond.
- Take note of things that may help identifying the person, such as description of the car, description of the person, did the person display a badge and what did it look like and what did the person say.
- If you are stopped by an unmarked car, the person that gets out should be immediately identifiable as a police officer.
- Remember to call local law enforcement and report anything that looks suspicious.
