North Vancouver RCMP are warning about a fake cop who police allege stopped a vehicle and tried to make the driver pay a fine early Monday.
At 3:30 a.m., a driver headed east on East 13th Street near Moody Avenue pulled over after seeing red and blue flashing lights on a vehicle behind them.
The driver of the trailing vehicle, a navy or dark grey Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, was a 25- to 30-year-old man wearing a vest and hat with police logos who identified himself as “NVPD.” He didn’t have a full police utility belt on him but did appear to have a baton-like tool on his belt.
“The suspect told the driver that he had been pulled over for ‘using GPS on his cellphone,’ then produced a debit/credit machine and demanded payment for the violation,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Melissa Jongema in a news release. “Sensing the situation was highly suspicious, the driver drove away and immediately contacted police.”
Jongema said police find the alleged stop “alarming,” especially because the suspect demanded money.
“Police officers do not accept payment for violation tickets at traffic stops. If you are pulled over and payment for a fine is demanded, please immediately report the incident to police,” said Jongema.
The suspect was white, about five-foot-nine with an average build, a slight goatee and no discernible accent. He was wearing a black round-neck T-shirt and navy cargo pants and the vest and hat with ‘POLICE’ in white letters.
Anyone who saw the traffic stop or has relevant dash-cam footage of the Chevy SUV is asked to call 604-985-1311.
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