Police: Armed deputy impersonator wearing "sheriff" vest robbed, carjacked man

ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A man pretending to be a deputy robbed another man at gunpoint at an apartment complex early Monday morning, Orlando police said.

Police said the robber approached the man around midnight at the Sawgrass apartments, along South Conway Road.

The victim told police he was leaving a friend's house when a Hispanic man wearing what looked like a tactical law enforcement vest that read "sheriff" on the front, knocked on the victim's car window, investigators said.

• Slideshow: Investigators at scene of robbery

The deputy impersonator then interrogated the man, handcuffed him as though he was going to arrest the victim, and then removed the handcuffs, police said.

Police said the incident turned into a robbery and carjacking when the impersonator took the victim's wallet and his cellphone, and then stole the victim's car.

"He was handcuffed and asked some questions, made to sit on the ground, [and] then eventually he took the cuffs off. As he was standing away, that's when he jumped in his car and took his keys," said Sgt. Vince Ogburn of the Orlando Police Department.

Police said they are looking for the victim's stolen car: a blue 2008 Toyota Yaris with a Florida tag AIS-P04.

Investigators said they checking with other law enforcement agencies to find out whether any vests have been reported stolen.

WFTV was told that police gear similar to what the impersonator was wearing can be purchased on the Internet.

Investigators said the victim was not injured.

WFTV