Montgomery County Searching For Cop Impersonator

Authorities are looking for a man in Montgomery County who robbed a woman while posing as a police officer.

It happened just before noon Wednesday, near the intersection of Avenel Road and St. Camillus Drive in Silver Spring.

A 39-year-old woman says she was pulled over by a man claiming to be a police officer. The suspect had a police style vest and badge, but was driving an unmarked compact sedan with no lights or sirens.

The suspect had tattoos on both arms and is described as an African-American man in his mid-20s of average height and heavy set. He demanded the woman's driver's license and registration, and forced her to sit on the curb while he ransacked her car, stealing her purse and cellphone.

Security experts say if you feel that you are being pulled over by a police impersonator, you should put your emergency hazard lights on, diminish your speed, pull over to the right lane, and proceed and to a safe and somewhat crowded location, before stopping and getting out of your car. If you have a cellphone, you should call police to confirm that an officer is attempting to pull you over.