Man accused of impersonating police officer, assaulting women during traffic stops in New Jersey, police say
The New Jersey State Police released a composite sketch of a man accused of impersonating a police officer and assaulting at least two women during fake traffic stops.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Authorities in New Jersey are searching for a man accused of impersonating a police officer and assaulting at least two women during phony traffic stops.
The suspect, described as a man in his 30s with dark red or brown hair and a beard, was allegedly wearing a shirt that said ‘POLICE’ across the front during the stop.
New Jersey State Police reported two incidents in Brick and Wall townships in early August. During one of the fake traffic stops, police say the suspect attempted to drag the woman out of her car when she refused to comply.
The victims in both incidents gave police similar descriptions of the suspect but said he was driving a black Ford Crown Victoria with an emergency light. One victim described her attacker as a man between 40-50 years old with a red beard, a ponytail and tattoos.
New Jersey State Police on Friday released a composite sketch of the suspect.
A woman who reported she was pulled over by a police impersonator in Cherry Hill has recanted her initial statement and told detectives the entire incident was a fabrication, according to authorities.
Police say with assistance from the public, detectives were able to identify the Ford van, which was captured by video surveillance in the area described by the woman.
The van was a federal corrections vehicle and the officers were on-duty and completing a prisoner transport at the time of the reported incident.
The van was a federal corrections vehicle and the officers were on-duty and completing a prisoner transport at the time of the reported incident, according to investigators.
Police continue to search for the man wanted in the incidents in Brick and Wall townships. Anyone with information should reach out to local authorities.
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