(JPBG Staff file photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Second incident

Motorist in Lumby pulled over by man impersonating police

Mar 24, 2021 | 10:00 AM

Another incident of a man impersonating a police officer has surfaced — this time in Lumby.

RCMP say a motorist was travelling on Highway 6 between Vernon and Lumby on Saturday, Mar. 13 around 9 p.m. when a white colored vehicle, described as a SUV or pick up truck, pulled in behind them and activated red and blue lights.

The motorist pulled over and a man approached the driver’s side window with a flashlight. After a brief conversation, the male suspect returned to the white vehicle and turned off the red and blue lights. When the motorist pulled out onto Highway 6, the white vehicle followed.

“As the motorist drove away, the suspicious white vehicle was in the process of stopping another vehicle on Highway 6 near Dure Meadows Road in Lumby,” Cpl. Tania Finn, Media Relations Officer with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, said. “Police are interested in speaking with that motorist or anyone else in our area who had a similar experience.”

The male suspect is described as being of average height and weight, with dirty blonde hair wearing a white button down shirt and black or dark blue khaki style pants.

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Anyone with information on the Lumby incident is asked to contact Constable Ashley Gravelle at the Lumby RCMP non-emergency line of 250-547-2151. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.

A similar incident occurred near Midway B.C. on Mar. 21, when a suspect allegedly conducted a traffic stop with a motorist between Rock Creek and Kelowna along Highway 33.

Investigators say the motorist was in the Westbridge area when the suspect vehicle, a white pick up truck, pulled out behind him, followed the victim for a short distance and then activated a set of red and blue lights installed in the vehicle’s grill. The victim pulled to the side of the roadway and the suspect driver approached his vehicle carrying a flashlight.

“Although the victim was ordered to exit his vehicle during the interaction, he trusted his instincts, distracted the suspect and managed to flee towards Kelowna,” stated Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, a spokesman for the BC RCMP in the Southeast District. “The suspect reportedly followed the victim for several kilometers before pulling off the highway. The victim contacted a family member when he entered into cell service range, who in turn reported the incident to police.”

The suspect in the Midway incident was described as an older man with blonde unkempt hair, approx. 6 ft to 6 ft 2 in tall. He was clean shaven and seen wearing a white dress shirt, with a dark pair of casual pants.

RCMP offer the following tips to motorists who believe they are being stopped an non-legitimate police vehicle:

• Slow down, drive in a safe manner to the nearest well-lit, populated area.

If this is not possible, do the following:

• Lock all doors, pull over safely and leave your vehicle running;
• If you have a cellular phone, take it out immediately, hold it in full view of the person who has pulled you over and call 911;
• Calmly give the 911 operator your location and express your concern;
• Ask the 911 operator / police dispatcher if they have had any communication with a police officer about a traffic stop in your area and ask them to relay your concerns to that law enforcement officer;
• Tell the officer, through a cracked window and locked door, that you plan to cooperate, but you have heard about police impersonators. Indicate that you are concerned for your safety, and that you are verifying the police contact through dispatch;
• If you remain uncertain that the person who pulled you over is in fact a police officer, ask him/her if you can proceed to a more populated area. If he/she agrees, tell the 911 dispatcher where you are heading to and proceed.