PALM BAY, Fla. — A woman was pulled over by a police impersonator in Palm Bay, police said Friday. Officers arrested 21-year-old Sean Davis, who they said had three prior arrests for similar activity.
Just after 1:00am Friday, 911 dispatchers received a call from a man saying his girlfriend was pulled over by a man driving a gold-colored Saturn with flashing blue lights. According to the caller, the man approached his girlfriend and identified himself as an off-duty police officer. He then requested her license and told her to get out of the car and empty her pockets.
The woman had been on the phone with her boyfriend as she was stopped. Her boyfriend drove to the scene on Emerson Drive and Lexington Street (see map) . As the man saw her boyfriend arriving, he let her and her passenger go without incident.
The victims contacted 911 and provided vehicle information, including a tag number.
Responding patrol officers located the suspect's vehicle within a few minutes and pulled him over. The victims later identified the driver of the vehicle as the man who pulled them over.
Further investigation revealed Davis was driving without a valid license and a background check showed he was on felony probation for a prior arrest involving impersonating a police officer.
"The victims in this case did the right thing in reacting immediately," said Deputy Chief Doug Muldoon of the Palm Bay Police Department. "All of our officers, some of which are in unmarked vehicles, will wear a uniform and will be clearly identified as police. However, if you are suspicious, pull over into a well-lighted, high-traffic area, call 911 and verify the officer's credentials."
Davis is facing charges of impersonating a police officer and driving on a suspended license.
WFTV
