A man posing as an undercover police officer followed two teenage girls home from Mill Creek High School this week, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Sydney Purcell was driving to her Dacula home with her sister in the passenger seat when she noticed a pickup truck following her. The driver had a flashing blue light on his dashboard and was honking his horn, Purcell said.
Purcell kept driving until she reached her home. The man followed her into a driveway and repeatedly knocked on her window, holding up an item that looked like a badge.
“He said ‘See, see, I’m an undercover cop. You have to get out of the car,’” Purcell said.
She and her sister stayed in the vehicle until the man left, apparently spooked by something. She told her mother and called the real police, who said that if a similar issue happened again, she should call 911 and keep driving.
Mill Creek High School sent an alert to parents about the incident with similar instructions for student drivers.
The Gwinnett County Police Department asked the public Friday afternoon to assist in finding the officer impersonator. He was described as a heavyset male standing 6 feet tall with brown shaggy hair, blue eyes, a tattoo on his upper left arm and a Southern accent. He is likely between 20 and 30 years old, according to police.
The suspect’s car is described as a dark color Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab, model year between 2004 and 2008 with “clear aftermarket tail lights,” including the third brake light. The car also has a chrome gas tank cover and aftermarket chrome tube steps.
Anyone who is being pursued by the vehicle should immediately call 911. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Gwinnett County detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Crime Stoppers tips may be rewarded with up to $2,000 if they lead to an arrest or indictment.
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