Richfield Cop Impersonator Pulled Over Young Woman: Police

RICHFIELD, MN — Police say there have been two incidents this month involving a man posing as an officer in Richfield. In the first instance, the imposter made a traffic stop on a car driven by a woman and tried to get her phone number. In the second incident, the imposter knocked on the door of a home asked for directions, police said.

In both occurrences, the man was driving a black Ford SUV equipped with red and blue emergency lights and was wearing a dark blue uniform, according to authorities. Police believe his vehicle is likely a former police car.

The suspect is described as a white man between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 inches tall, between 20 and 40 years old, and about 200 pounds with short brown hair.

What to do if you think you’ve encountered a cop impersonator

Richfield Lt. Joe Griffin told Patch that if someone doubts an officer's authenticity, they can always call 911 to verify they are legitimate.

Police officers wear uniforms with distinctive patches and badges. Each police department has its own distinct patch that states the city or jurisdiction.

Each officer also has a badge number. If asked, officers are required to provide identification, including their name and badge number.

“If someone is being pulled over by someone who they believe is fake, I recommend pulling over and verifying with 911,” Griffin said.

Griffin noted that a driver can be charged with a felony for failing to stop for police. If they do not pull over, it is considered “fleeing” police.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File