Warning Issued About Fake Law Officer

LEE COUNTY ( WCBI) –  A man posing as an officer is trying to prey on North Mississippi residents.  The latest account took place just after 1:30 Saturday morning on Old Highway 45 north of Barnes Crossing Road.  The victim says a car behind her turned on flashing blue and red lights inside his vehicle .  The woman pulled to the right side of the road and the bogus cop pulled beside her , yelled something and then drove away towards Saltillo.   Sheriff Jim Johnson says the victim continued north and turned on Birmingham Ridge road when the suspect, driving a small dark colored car, pulled out of a store parking lot and once again turned on the fake police lights and pulled the woman over.  This time he approached her car and pulled a knife but the intended victim drove away and called 9-1-1 who stayed on the phone with her until she met legitimate deputies in a safe area.  The suspect is described as a white man between 30-40 years old with facial hair.  He was wearing a camo hat or cap and displayed a black knife.   Sheriff Johnson says if you suspect something isn’t correct with a traffic stop you should turn your emergency flashers on, contact 9-1-1 and drive to a well lighted area where dispatchers will verify you are being stopped by an actual officer and will tell you how to proceed.

Union County authorities along with the MHP are also investigating a similar incident and are working with Lee County to verify both incidents are connected