Fake Cop Charged in 4 Rapes

The victim in a Tuesday rape in the Holiday area gets the credit for leading deputies to a man they say is also responsible for three other assaults over the last year.

Tuesday’s incident unfolded around 5 p.m. as a woman walking along U.S. 19 was approached by a man in a pickup truck. She got into the truck and was taken to the west end of Green Key Road. Here the man pulled out a wallet that contained a “badge” and told the woman he was a detective, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

The man went on to tell the woman he was a “dirty cop.”

In fear for her safety, the woman tried to run, the report stated. The man, however, chased her down, tackled her and carried her back to the truck. There, the report said, the man forced the woman to perform sexual acts with him.

Once released by the man, the woman was able to get the truck’s license plate number, which deputies used to track him down.

During the course of the investigation, the same man was linked to three other similar rapes in the New Port Richey and Holiday areas. Those crimes took place between Oct. 22 and Nov. 29 of last year.

Jose Hernaldo Matos Estrada, 42, of 3248 Holiday Lake Drive was arrested Thursday on four charges of sexual assault.

Before his arrest, Estrada admitted to picking up prostitutes along U.S. 19 and also admitted to flashing a “bail enforcement” badge during those encounters, the arrest reports state.

Estrada was booked into the Land O’ Lakes Jail. Booking information was not yet available.

Photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office