A woman is accused of impersonating a police officer and pulling over four people near Norcross, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Quitina Helms, 38, of Gainesville, allegedly wore a shirt with the word “Police” on the front and back and stopped a car near Jimmy Carter Boulevard early Sunday, Gwinnett County police told Channel 2.
“She shined a light inside the vehicles,” Cpl. Michele Pihera told the news station. “She asked them to get out of the vehicle (and) asked them to sit on the curb. She asked them to not talk ... and she also asked them for names and identification so she could check for possible warrants.”
However, the four people she pulled over became suspicious when Helms couldn’t show them a badge, Channel 2 reported.
After about 20 minutes, police said one of the four victims jumped into Helms’ vehicle and drove off while the others called 911, the news station reported.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Helms told police it was just a prank, and she was seen smiling multiple times and giving a thumbs up to Channel 2’s cameras during her first court hearing Tuesday.
“I don’t know if her motivations were to eventually tell the victims that this was a prank and this was just a joke, but this was very serious,” Pihera said.
She’s been charged with impersonating an officer and false imprisonment, which are both felonies, according to Gwinnett County Jail records. She remains in jail on a $22,400 bond.
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