Motorists warned to be on guard

State police bombarded with calls about trooper impersonator who sexually assaulted woman.

By Manuel Gamiz Jr. Of The Morning Call - Last Updated: June 12, 2007- View original article

A day after releasing the sketch of a police impersonator who sexually assaulted a woman in Upper Saucon, state police were swamped with calls Monday, some that turned into possible leads for four investigators working the case, authorities said.

Police offered tips Monday on what motorists should do if they are stopped and feel uncomfortable, but did not release anything new on their investigation into what happened Saturday night in the township's quiet Oakhurst neighborhood, about a quarter-mile from Route 145.

State police at Fogelsville said uneasy motorists should stay inside their vehicles and keep the doors locked if they are pulled over. They can keep the engine running and roll down their window just enough so they can talk to the trooper.

They should ask the trooper for identification and have him show his badge, and if they continue to feel unsure, they should call 911 or local police to confirm that an actual trooper is making the traffic stop.

Police said the impersonator in Upper Saucon was driving a white police-style cruiser with ''state police'' on the rear quarter panel, a light bar with bright white lights on the roof and a door-mounted spotlight.

Legitimate marked state police vehicles are white and display the full color patch, gold and black stripes with ''Pennsylvania State Police'' on the vehicle.

The patrol vehicle also would have a light bar with blue and red lights, not bright white. Also, if a trooper is driving an unmarked vehicle, he will have a single red light, usually on the roof. These vehicles also use alternating flashing headlights.

The impersonator wore a light gray short-sleeve uniform shirt, dark pants, black boots and a leather duty belt with a semiautomatic handgun in the holster.

A legitimate state trooper on patrol would be wearing a full uniform that includes a shirt or jacket with a state police patch on the shoulders. He also would be wearing a tie, hat, dark gray pants and leather gear.

Plainclothes troopers sometimes drive unmarked vehicles, but will make traffic stops only if there is a serious offense.

Lt. William Teper of state police at Bethlehem, the criminal investigations section commander, said investigators checked into the possibility the crime might have been committed by a legitimate law enforcement officer, but the descriptions of the person and vehicle did not show that was the case.

''This is something we take extremely seriously,'' he said. ''We are doing our best to solve this.''

Some police equipment, including light bars, spotlights, strobe lights and police speakers and microphones, can be purchased from a number of Web sites, and stripped-down police vehicles are often sold at auctions after police departments retire them.

Capt. Steve Johnson, commander of Troop M, Bethlehem, said police impersonation cases are rare. ''They do pop up every once in a while,'' he said, noting that police gear ''has always been available. If they want to find this stuff, they will.''

In the past decade, at least a dozen local police agencies have investigated police impersonation cases. Among them:

In September 2005, state police at Fern Ridge said a man impersonating an officer stopped several people on roads in Monroe and Carbon counties. The impersonator wore a dark uniform with patches on the sleeves and drove a white Crown Victoria with red and blue lights and a siren. A Wind Gap man was later charged, and police said he stopped vehicles and verbally assaulted drivers for traffic violations.

In May 2001, Freemansburg police said, a man driving a sedan placed a red light on his roof, pulled over a woman, made obscene remarks to her and removed her bra. He was wearing a dark gray uniform and a campaign hat with a chin strap like the hats state police wear.

In July 2000, a police impersonator driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse made a traffic stop on Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township. The man stopped a car with three teens and called their parents.

On Saturday in Upper Saucon, the woman was northbound on Oakhurst Drive at 6:43 p.m. when the motorist behind her activated a light bar on the roof of his car, police said. The woman pulled onto the shoulder, and the armed and uniformed driver walked up to her car.

The man told the woman to get into the back seat of his car and she complied. After a few minutes, he got in and sexually assaulted her, then let her out. He made a U-turn and drove south toward Route 145, police said.

Anyone who witnessed the traffic stop or has seen a similar vehicle in the area can call state police at Fogelsville, 610-395-1438.

TIPS FOR KEEPING SAFE DURING TRAFFIC STOPS

Ask the state trooper for an ID card and badge.

If you feel uncomfortable, stay inside your vehicle.

Keep your doors locked.

Keep the engine running.

Roll your window down just enough so you can talk to the trooper.

If still unsure, call 911 or local police to confirm you are being stopped by a legitimate officer.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Troopers on patrol are in full uniform: a shirt or jacket with Pennsylvania State Police patch, leather gear, tie, hat, dark gray pants.

Marked cars are white but display full-color patch -- gold and black stripes with ''Pennsylvania State Police'' on vehicle.

Marked state police vehicles have blue and red lights. Unmarked vehicles have a single red light, usually on roof. Vehicles also use alternating flashing headlights.

Source: Pennsylvania State Police

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