DuPont man only looked like a deputy, police say

Thu. August 28, 2008; Posted: 08:22 AM

A gun, handcuffs, two badges and a vehicle fully equipped with police-style red and blue flashing lights, K-9 stickers, sirens, a police scanner and a public address system.

But the 52-year-old DuPont man isn't a cop, Lakewood police say. And now he's under arrest.

"He's not with who he said he was with," police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said Wednesday.

Investigators arrested the man Wednesday, alleging he impersonated a Pierce County sheriff's deputy at a South Tacoma Way business in June. They impounded his black 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck and seized all the equipment -- including a handgun, handcuffs and two police-style badges -- found inside.

Given all that equipment, Hoffman said, police worry that he passed himself off as an officer at other times.

"We are very concerned that he may have been doing traffic stops or otherwise approaching people and taking police action," she said.

Investigators booked the man into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of one count of second-degree criminal impersonation. He was to be released from custody late Wednesday, according to the online jail roster.

The News Tribune is not naming him because he's not been charged in the case.

The investigation began in June after the man stopped at a business along South Tacoma Way in Lakewood and approached a security guard, Hoffman said. The man flashed a badge, identified himself as a sheriff's deputy and told the officer he wanted to know who was parked in a handicapped spot.

The man moved his Nissan truck behind the car and turned on its police-style emergency lights, Hoffman said.

"He basically blocked the car in," she said. "He was armed, and he did display a weapon."

The car's owner came out and asked what was going on. The man told the owner he wouldn't write a ticket this time, then left.

The business owner was suspicious and got the pickup's license plate number, Hoffman said. A couple of days later, the business owner contacted an off-duty Lakewood police officer about the incident.

Investigators researched the man's history and found he had no ties to area law enforcement agencies. He had contacted some of the agencies and offered his services as a K-9 officer if they ever needed it, Hoffman said.

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268

How to help

Lakewood police want to hear from anyone contacted by a 52-year-old DuPont man who claimed to be conducting police business.

Lt. Heidi Hoffman described the man as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds and balding, with gray hair and a mustache. He drove a black 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck with police-style red and blue flashing lights, K-9 stickers, sirens, a police scanner and a public address system.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call 253-830-5011.

Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune

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