Centralia Police Department
Centralia Police detectives are investigating a report of a man dressed as a police officer, driving a police-model vehicle who allegedly stopped a woman and groped her Sunday night in Centralia.
At 7:53 p.m. on Sunday, police received a report of an assault by a person dressed as a police officer in the 400 block of South Gold Street in Centralia.
The woman reported that a white male in a police-type uniform driving an older-model Ford Crown Victoria with a single red light on its roof stopped her vehicle and asked her to take a sobriety test.
The police impersonator then allegedly groped the victim. The woman reported she was able to break away from the man, lock herself in her vehicle and drive home, where she called police.
The case is under investigation. Investigators are planning to work with a sketch artist and are looking for possible security video of the suspect or his vehicle.
If a driver is unsure if a police-type vehicle attempting to pull them over is legitimate, the Centralia Police Department is asking drivers to put on their hazard lights, slow down and proceed to a well-lit area. Drivers can call 911 to confirm that the vehicle is a legitimate police officer, then pull over immediately.
Most law-enforcement vehicles are clearly marked, with the exception of detective vehicles, according to the police department.
