HICKORY, N.C. — The Hickory Police Department is asking for the public’s help locating a person accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Police said they received a report around 5:15 a.m. Thursday about a person impersonating a law enforcement officer. Police were told that the stop happened between 3:00-3:30 a.m. on Hwy 321 in Hickory under the bridge before reaching James Oxygen Supply.
The person accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer has been described as a white man in his 30’s, who is around 5 foot 8 inches tall with a medium build.
The suspect is said to have a long beard which is dark in color and was wearing what appeared to be a law enforcement style uniform with a firearm and other law enforcement type equipment. No badge was present on this persons clothing or displayed during this incident.
The impersonating person was operating a black SUV type vehicle that had no law enforcement style markings on it but was equipped with blue lights in its front windshield, according to a news release.
Anyone with information on the identity of this person, or has had a similar interaction with the person is asked to contact Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551.
The Hickory Police Department said if you feel unsafe during a stop and suspect an impersonator to:
- Call your local department to see if there is an officer in the area conducting traffic stops before pulling over
- Turn your vehicle’s emergency flashers on and continue driving at a slower speed while attempting to pull over in a well-lit, populated area
- Ask the person stopping you to provide you with photo ID and which department they work for
- Pay attention to the persons clothing
- Request another officer to respond to the traffic stop