Police in Jackson County, Georgia, are warning drivers to be on the alert for a police impersonator who has been conducting illegal traffic stops.
On March 31, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office issued a warning about an male suspect making traffic stops and falsely identifying himself as a police officer.
Police say that the “suspect was described as an older white male driving an older tan or brown Chevrolet Caprice or Impala with a blue light on the dash. The subject had conducted an illegal traffic stop on a vehicle on Hwy.129 in the Redstone area. The male was described as wearing brown pants, tan shirt w/ badge, and identified himself as a Jackson County Deputy Sheriff. Be advised that we do not have any Chevrolet patrol vehicles at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.”
During the traffic stop, the suspect reportedly told the driver who he stopped that he wasn’t essential and shouldn’t be on the roads because of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Georgia is under a state-wide “stay-at-home” order as of 6 p.m. on Friday, April 3.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said, “We urge our citizens to please exercise caution and be vigilant if being stopped. It is very unlikely that a patrol car with a single dash mounted strobe light should be attempting to stop you and would automatically raise suspicion.”
Police say that the suspect may be performing similar illegal traffic stops in Dawson and Hall Counties.
If you have information on the suspect, you can reach the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 367-8718.