[StBernard] Police Impersonators Strike On North Shore

[Westley Annis]

Police Impersonators Strike On North Shore
TheNewOrleansChannel.com
updated 10:13 a.m. CT, Fri., Dec. 28, 2007
SLIDELL, La. - Two men impersonating police officers robbed a Pearl River
teen, leaving Slidell Police to search for the impostors. On Wednesday, a
17-year-old called 911, claiming he had been robbed by two men posing as
police. The teen said he was with some friends near Texas Roadhouse along
Interstate 10 when a white Ford F-150 pickup truck pulled up. The teen said
the truck had strobe lights, so the teen complied when the men told them to
get out and place their hands on the vehicle. 

?One of the victims asked for the perpetrator to produce a badge and, at
that point, he told them they were undercover officers with the NABC ? which
doesn?t stand for anything,? Slidell Police Department Captain Kevin Foltz
said. 

Police said the men searched the victims, the inside of their car, and left.
It wasn?t until the 17-year-old returned to his vehicle that he realized $80
in cash, his debit card and his driver?s license were gone. 

Police said they?re troubled by the incident because it undermines the
public?s trust. 

?Our policy states that unmarked vehicles cannot make traffic stops -- a lot
of agencies do this,? Foltz said. 

He said the men will be charged with simple robbery, impersonating police
and possibly other charges when caught. 

The staff at Texas Roadhosue said it?s the first time something like this
has happened. Even so, they said they?ve recently started parking closer to
the building, where there is more lighting. 

One woman wondered why the teens even pulled over. 

?Would you have stopped? No,? Slidell Resident Jacqueline King said. ?Cops
don?t drive a Ford F-150. The government ain?t going to spring for that.? 

Police said that citizens should ask for a badge number if approached by
someone they think is impersonating a police officer, but never resist,
because the person might have a gun.