2 Women Face Felony Charges For Impersonating Officers: Police

SARASOTA, FL — Two women have been arrested after pretending to be law enforcement officers and pulling over a driver early Sunday, Sarasota police said in a news release.

Jymieka McDowell, 28, of Sarasota and Ryshawnna Poole, 39, of Manatee County face of impersonating a law enforcement officer and false imprisonment, both felonies.

Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Sarasota police responded to the 1200 block of 31st Street for a suspicious incident, according to the news release. The caller told officers they heard what they thought was another Sarasota police officer in distress.

No distressed officer was found, but while searching the area, police saw the two women – later identified as McDowell and Poole - attempting to stop another driver near Cocoanut and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Their car had red and blue lights in the windshield and a siren, police said.

Police say the women livestreamed the fake traffic stop on social media. In the video, McDowell and Poole claimed to be law enforcement officers, and made threatening and derogatory statements to the driver and passengers of the vehicle they stopped.

There was no previous relationship between the two women and those in the vehicle they pulled over, police added.

The video shows red and blue lights flashing and a siren being used, police said. McDowell and Poole are heard saying, “Driver, exit the vehicle,” “Put your ******* hands up driver,” “I need everyone to exit the ******* car,” “Do not make a move,” “Black lives don’t ******* matter” and “Anybody move, and I will shoot.”

“This wasn’t Sarasota police officers pulling over a car,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino. “These were people who were pretending to be law enforcement officers and putting fear into innocent victims and residents of our community. If you ever suspect if someone is pulling you over that you feel isn’t a law enforcement officer, call 911 to validate the traffic stop.”

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McDowell and Poole were arrested and brought to Sarasota County Jail on unrelated charges, in addition to the felony charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and false imprisonment.

Detectives believe the women have done this before and are asking other potential victims to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call 941-263-6070.