RICHMOND, B.C. — Authorities in Richmond, British Columbia, have apprehended a man suspected of impersonating a police officer. The suspect is alleged to have conducted an unauthorized traffic stop and subsequently reported the incident to 9-1-1, claiming to be following a potentially impaired driver.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a call around 1 p.m. on Sunday from a male complainant who reported being pulled over by an individual driving a Ford Mustang. The Mustang was reportedly equipped with red and blue police lights, which added to the confusion during the encounter.
According to police reports, the complainant stated that the driver of the Mustang was adorned with a police badge lanyard. The suspect requested the complainant’s driver's license. However, sensing that something was amiss, the complainant chose to leave the scene and promptly reported the incident to the authorities, expressing concern that the driver was not a legitimate law enforcement officer.
In a perplexing turn of events, the suspect in the Mustang also called 9-1-1 after the incident. In this 9-1-1 call, he claimed to be tailing a possible impaired driver, which raised further suspicions regarding his actions. The RCMP later arrested the suspect, who was reportedly wearing dark grey clothing in addition to the police badge lanyard at the time of his apprehension.
For context, the complainant was driving a beige Dodge Grand Caravan that bore Ontario license plates during the incident. The authorities are actively seeking assistance from the public. They are asking anyone who may have information or dash cam footage related to this incident to contact them, particularly from the area of No. 2 Road, extending from Westminster Highway to Francis Road, between 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
This unusual case emphasizes the ongoing concerns about impersonators posing as law enforcement officials. The RCMP is taking this matter seriously, ensuring that individuals who may attempt to exploit the guise of police authority are held accountable.
