Crime & Safety
Fake Cop Sexually Assaulted 2 Women: Police
The attacks happened hours apart in Atlanta and Cobb County. Here's what to do if you suspect a traffic stop may not be legitimate.

ATLANTA, GA — Police in Atlanta and Cobb County are warning female drivers to be wary of traffic stops that don't seem legitimate after two women were sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a law enforcement officer.
Investigators are working to find out whether the two separate incidents are related. They happened in the early morning hours on Friday, according to an Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman.
The first happened at about 1 a.m. on Friday on Nash Road in northwest Atlanta. There, according to police, a 25-year-old woman was pulled over by a car with flashing lights, then sexually assaulted by the man who, dressed as a law enforcement officer, had pulled her over.
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A few hours later, a woman driving in Cobb County was pulled over on Terrell Mill Road near Mill Road in Marietta. A man approached the car and asked to see the woman's driver's license, then grabbed her and opened her car door, Cobb County Police said.
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He began to grope and sexually assault the woman, police said, then stopped and let her leave.
"APD investigators are working closely with Cobb County investigators to determine if there is a link between the two attacks," police spokeswoman Officer Lisa Bender said in an email.
What appeared to be a uniform the man was wearing did not match any law enforcement agencies in the area, according to police. In both instances, the man was described as a white male standing between 6' and 6'3" tall and about 30 years old with short, brown hair worn in a buzz cut. He appeared to be unshaven and was driving a car with a police-style light bar on top of it.
Police say drivers worried about the validity of a traffic stop may call 911 to verify that it is legitimate.
"If you find yourself being stopped by the police and you feel uncomfortable with the stop, we suggest you slow down, indicate to the officer that you intend to stop, possibly by using your flashers or turn signal, and call 911," Bender said. "Advise the dispatcher you are being stopped and ask them to verify there is a legitimate officer stopping you. You may also drive to a public place or well-lit area to stop."
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