Police say man impersonated officer, stopped woman's car

By CHRIS COLLINS

Baker City Herald

Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner is asking community residents to be wary of scheme involving a man impersonating a police officer.

He said a Baker County woman reported that she was pulled over by what she thought was an unmarked patrol car displaying emergency lights at about 8:35 p.m. on Nov. 5. The stop, which happened near A&D Restoration at 370 Elm St. near Highway 30 at the south Baker City limits, was not conducted by a police officer, Lohner said.

Three similar incidents were reported earlier in the year in the Idaho communities of Parma and Council. Two of those incidents involved lone women and the third was a woman and her father. All were traveling in rural areas.

“The incidents are occurring in the nighttime hours when there is less traffic and fewer officers,” Lohner added.

The Baker City suspect’s vehicle was described as a light-colored passenger car with a red-and-blue light mounted on its dash, Lohner said. During the incident, a man stepped from the car and approached the woman’s vehicle, shining a flashlight in her eyes, he said.

The woman remained safe by employing what Lohner called “an excellent strategy.” She asked for a marked patrol car to come to the location. That sent the man back to his car and he drove away, Lohner said.

While Baker City, Baker County and Oregon State Police officers do employ unmarked vehicles, they follow certain procedures to properly identify themselves.

“All Baker City Police Department officers will identify themselves and their agency when they first approach a stopped vehicle,” Lohner said.

Officers who routinely drive unmarked cars include Chief Lohner and plain clothes detectives Jay Lohner and Sharon Bass, and Sgt. Kirk McCormick.

Plainclothes officers make some traffic stops, but will display a badge either on their belt, on a chain around their neck or possibly in their hand, the chief said.

Uniformed officers might also drive unmarked cars at times, he added, but they also would display a badge along with a name tag and police department patch on the left sleeve of their uniform.

“All officers should also be in possession of photo identification from their agency, which you may ask for,” he said.

Lohner asked that residents continue to yield to all vehicles displaying emergency lights, noting that police emergency lights will flash red and blue.

Anyone pulled over by an unmarked vehicle flashing red-and-blue lights and then approached by the driver is entitled to keep their doors locked and only lower their window enough to communicate and pass documents through, Lohner said.

“If you are not confident that the officer is a legitimate police officer, you may also ask for a marked car, or call 911,” Lohner said. “Dispatch will be able to get us out there right away to identify the vehicle.”

Lohner said time is of the essence in reporting such incidents. The past reports came in about 30 minutes after the fact, hampering the investigation.

“We need to know as quickly as possible,” he said.

Police are following leads from the Baker City woman as well as those from the Idaho victims.

For more information or to report any similar suspicious activity, call Bass, the lead investigator, at 524-2014, Extension 21.