Police are investigating a crime involving a driver who was pulled over by a person pretending to be a police officer.
The driver asked 13 Action News to not use his name or show his face because he still fears for his safety. So for the sake of the story we will call the driver Steve.
“I was finally at a point in my life where I was moving out on my own, had my own place, I was finally going to be independent and then this happens," Steve said.
The 23-year-old said Friday afternoon while pulling out of his apartment complex near Tenaya Way and Azure Drive in northwest Las Vegas, a matte black Dodge Charger pulled up behind him. Steve said he was convinced he was getting pulled over by a police officer.
“It has the police lights under the rear view mirror; it looked like it could possibly be an undercover police vehicle," he said.
Steve says it all happened so fast, he did not hear sirens and he started to get a bad feeling when the fake cop came over the loudspeaker and instructed him to turn down an isolated street, just blocks from where he lived.
No sirens was the first clue, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. A routine stop involves the officer activating their siren and red and blue flashing strobe light located on the front and back of the vehicle.
Steve said the cop impersonator came over to his car, carrying a gun in a camouflage holster.
Steve said he was forced out of his car at gunpoint, hit over the head with the gun, tossed face first to the ground, put in handcuffs and then robbed.
He said the crook stole $400 out of his wallet and continued to taunt him as he tossed the dollar bills and change at Steve as he laid handcuffed on the ground.
After the imposter took off his handcuffs, Steve says he told him not to follow him and remain on the ground or he would kill him.
Steve described him as a black man in his 30s, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a black polo and black cargo pants with a shaved head and pencil thin mustache with a hint of gray.
If you have any tips you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
