Pocono News Section

Old Forge Police on Lookout for Fake Cop

Old Forge Police on Lookout for Fake Cop - Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 5:47PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 @ 05:47pm EST
OLD FORGE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Police in part of Lackawanna County are on the lookout for a fake cop. Investigators in Old Forge say he pulled a woman over Wednesday night by using a car with a white flashing light.

It happened in the 100-block of Moosic Road just after 9:00 PM. The road is a busy place at any time of day.

"That's like really scary because all of my friends, we always just drive around because there's nothing to do," Stephanie Pherreigo of Old Forge said.

Police Chief Larry Semenza say the man was middle-aged. When he approached the woman's car he had a flashlight and some sort of stick.

"He identified himself as a police officer and he told her she had pulled out in front of him and at this point, she said he was going to give her a verbal warning," Chief Semenza said.

Old Forge police cruisers are hard to mistake. The victim says the car which stopped her was not a marked police cruiser.

"Make sure if somebody stops you, they are actually in a police vehicle with red and blue lights. Make sure they identify themselves as a police officer," Chief Semenza said.

People who travel in the area of Moosic Road say they'll now be a little more cautious.

"Yeah, I'm surprised with this being on a busy street and everything, you know?" Kevin Shea of Taylor said. "Especially when it was 9:00 PM at night."

"This guy was in plain clothes and in our department -- it is not our policy to ever do such a thing -- stop a vehicle when you're in plain clothes -- unless you're accompanied by a uniformed officer," Chief Semenza said.

Besides being described as middle-aged, the suspect is about 5'9" and 200 pounds.

Anyone with information on the fake cop is urged to contact the Old Forge Police Department at (570) 457-7441.