Police Investigate Police Impersonator Incident in Silver Spring

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2012	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Police Investigate Police
Impersonator Incident in Silver Spring

Detectives from the 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating an incident involving a police impersonator that occurred today in Silver Spring.

Today, at approximately 11:45 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the area of Avenel Road and St. Camillus Drive for a report of a suspicious situation. The 39-year-old female victim told police that she had been driving on Avenel Road when she noticed that a vehicle was following her. The driver of the vehicle then began blowing the horn and reaching his arm out of the window motioning for the victim to pull over. The driver of the vehicle then pulled next to her, yelled that he was the police, showed her a badge pinned to a vest, and told her to pull over. No police lights or siren were used on the vehicle.

The victim pulled over, and the driver of the vehicle approached her. He demanded the victim’s license and registration and ordered her to get out of her car and to sit on the curb. The driver then went through the contents of the victim’s vehicle, took her purse and cell phone, and drove away in his vehicle. The victim was not injured.

Suspect Still at Large

The suspect is described as a black male, 26-27 years of age, approximately 5’10” tall, and weighing approximately 190 pounds. He had short, curly hair, and had tattoos on both arms. He was wearing a black baseball hat with a police badge emblem, a black vest similar to a police vest with a silver badge attached, black cargo pants, and black boots. The suspect was driving a small, black, compact car with blue Maryland tags (possibly Bay tags). The suspect was last seen driving his vehicle toward New Hampshire Avenue.

Police are asking that anyone that who may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact 3rd District detectives at 301-565-5835. Also, anyone who may have any information about the suspect or the suspect vehicle is asked to contact the police.

Avenel Road and St. Camillus Drive in Silver Spring