Forensic Sketch Released of Police Impersonation Suspect

The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind community members that officers performing traffic stops would very rarely be in a vehicle without clear police markings or official lights.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to provide it to Detective Chris Brace at (503) 823-0541 or chris.brace@portlandoregon.gov.

(PORTLAND, OR) - The Portland Police Bureau would like to make the public aware of an incident where a man posing as an undercover police officer stopped a woman and searched her car.

On Friday January 17, 2014, the victim in this case met with a police sketch artist and a composite drawing of the suspect is being released to the public to aid in the identification of the suspect.

This investigation started on Sunday January 12, 2014, at approximately 1:30 a.m., when a 33-year-old woman (who has asked not to be identified publicly) stopped at the Plaid Pantry convenience store located at Southeast Grand Avenue and East Burnside Street. After she drove out of the parking lot, she noticed that she was being followed by an unknown vehicle. The victim told police that the driver of the vehicle was flashing its headlights and using a phone with a flashing white and possibly blue light.

The victim drove to the area of North Vancouver Avenue and Ainsworth Street near a friend's house, stopped, and got out to confront the driver.

After she got out of her car, the man in the car following her got out and flashed a badge in a wallet at her and identified himself as an undercover police officer. The victim told police that the man explained that he saw her talking to a drug dealer outside of Plaid Pantry and then asked to search her car, which she allowed him to do. The victim watched the man search her car and appear to put something into his pocket.

The victim asked the man for his business card, which he did not provide, and the man drove away. The victim then noticed that she was missing a small amount of money from her purse.

The victim described the suspect as a white male, 40 to 50 years old, 5'8" to 5"9" tall, approximately 140 pounds, clean shaven, bulbous nose, short gray thin hair, some kind of speech impediment, and nice teeth. The suspect was wearing a dark blue or black stocking cap, a baggy black hoody with possibly a red logo, and baggy light-colored jeans.

The vehicle was described as a white 1990s sedan, possibly a Buick.

The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind community members that officers performing traffic stops would very rarely be in a vehicle without clear police markings or official lights. All police officers encountering the public will have a badge and a photo ID from the issuing agency identifying themselves as sworn police officers.

Community members suspecting that someone is impersonating a police officer should immediately call 9-1-1.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to provide it to Detective Chris Brace at (503) 823-0541 or chris.brace@portlandoregon.gov.