Warning: Man impersonating Lancaster police makes false Indian Land traffic stop
A man identifying himself as a police officer pulled over a woman in Lancaster County, prompting the sheriff to issue a public safety warning.
The incident happened Thursday in the Indian Land area east of Fort Mill on S.C. 160 near U.S. 521, said Barry Faile, Lancaster County Sheriff.
The car that pulled over the woman is described as a dark sedan that had red and blue flashing lights, said Doug Barfield, spokesman for the sheriff’s office. The person being sought for impersonating an officer wore dark clothing and a hat, Barfield said.
The woman was not hurt, but Faile said the public needs to know police cars have flashing lights that show only blue.
“We want the public to be cautious,” Faile said. “No marked or unmarked law enforcement vehicles in Lancaster County have red and blue lights. We always want folks to stop for blue lights.”
The woman, driving alone, pulled over after the sedan behind her displayed the flashing lights, deputies said.
The man in the other car approached the woman and claimed she had a tail light out, Faile said. That claim was false, Faile said.
The man then made statements and asked questions of the woman consistent with what a police officer would ask at a traffic stop, Faile said. But an investigation by deputies has determined that the man was not a law enforcement officer, Faile said.
Faile said it is appropriate for drivers in a traffic stop to seek a safe place to pull over, and also call 911 to verify whether the person who is flashing lights is legitimate law enforcement.
“If you’re being pulled over and have concerns about your safety, it’s fine to make your way to a safe, well-lighted place to stop,” Faile said. “Don’t increase your speed or make evasive moves. Dial 911 and let the dispatcher know your intentions so they can be conveyed to the officer.”
If the stop is done by a phony officer, Faile said the incident should be immediately reported to any available lawn enforcement.
The area where the phony stop happened is just east of the York County line.
Police and fire officials in York warned the public earlier this week when a person claiming to be a firefighter blocked a road after a crash. That person was later arrested.
Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office, said there have not been any reported incidents in York County involving anyone pulled over by someone who was a phony cop, but urged drivers to follow the same safety rules that Faile offered.
