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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...2b51f15d0f.html

Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

LaPorte County police believe a woman during a traffic stop had an encounter with a man pretending to be a law enforcement officer.

The Michigan City area woman told police she was followed for several miles Saturday night by a dark blue Ford Crown Victoria on Ind. 4 and while approaching LaPorte pulled over to his flashing blue and red lights.

After told she was speeding, the woman complied with his request for her driver's license and registration.

He went back to his car and soon returned telling the woman to "have a nice day," police said.

The man was wearing a plain brown uniform with no name tag or any other law enforcement markings and when asked for some identification he just "looked at her" then drove off in the opposite direction, police said.

She described the man as in his mid-30s to early 40s, 6 feet tall, physically fit and clean shaven. He was wearing black pants and a chaffeur's hat, police said.

LaPorte County police Chief of Detectives Pat Cicero said the information provided by the woman will be shared with other law enforcements agencies to help in the investigation and, perhaps, discourage any further police imposter activities.

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As a follow up to yesterdays story about a person potentially imitating a police officer, I checked in with officers from both the Michigan City Police Department and the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department for their opinions on how you should handle that situation in the extremely unlikely case that it were to happen to you. A huge thanks to both John Boyd and Marty Corley for giving me a bit of their time here!

First Mayor John Boyd of the LPSD

"For someone that is being pulled over and is uncertain if it is a real police officer I suggest that they slow, activate their hazard lights and drive to a well lit and populated area and stop there. They should also call 911 from their cell phone and inquire with the dispatcher whether it is a legitimate traffic stop, as they would know. If it is not, they will send an officer(s) to that location to aid the motorist. If the dispatcher confirms it is not legitimate, stay on the phone and do not stop until a real officer arrives to assist."

And Marty Corley of the MCPD

"I concur with what Major John T Boyd says and that the person should immediately call 911 and confirm with dispatch about the legitimacy of the traffic stop. They should be sure to give their name and location and if the stop is not being conducted by a real police officer then they should stay on the phone until the real police arrive. They should also let the impersonator know that they have called the real police and they are on the way. If the impersonator leaves the person should make a mental note of the persons characteristics (such as height, weight, hair and eye color and clothing description) and make, model and color of vehicle."

[Ang]

I had something similar happen yesterday, although I wasn't "pulled over".
I was driving down the Blvd and when I stopped for the red light at Woodland, there was a car next to me. The man just stared at me and his appearance made me think he was a police officer initally, but what happened after that I don't think he was. After the light changed, he paced my car all the way from Woodland to 8th St and stared at me the whole time. If I slowed, he did. If I sped up, he did. It was very unnerving and I had planned to drive all the way to the police station if need be. At 8th he got behind me and tailgated for a block, then pulled in front of me and slowed down to about 25 MPH. I was going to turn at 6th and use Pine to cut over to the police station, but then he sped up real fast and turned at the light onto 12 west. So I turned on 4th street to keep away from him.
Very scary...and this was in the afternoon in broad daylight! At the 11th street light there was a car in front of me, and none in front of him, but he stopped even with my car and just stared at me.

He was driving a newer model black Camry and wearing a suit. He was white, looked about mid-50's and was bald. He was very professional looking, but was really a creeper.