Police: Woman pulled over, robbed by fake cop in Pasadena

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Pasadena police are sending out a warning after a woman was reportedly pulled over and robbed by someone impersonating an officer earlier this week.

Investigators say it happened just before 7am Sunday. The woman says she pulled over in the 8500 block of Bay Area Boulevard near Red Bluff after she noticed emergency lights behind her.

"I was driving down when I noticed some lights behind me," said the female victim who does not want to be identified, " and I was kind of like, I was going 5 miles above the speed limit, I know what the speed limit is there, I've traveled this road for like 30 years and I was like you've got to be kidding, he's going to stop me for going 5 miles over."

She says as she was reaching for her insurance, a man approached and told her to give him her money and jewelry. She complied and says the suspect told her to drive away.

According to the victim, the driver is described as a man in his mid 30s to early 40s with a stocky build. He's Hispanic or white with olive skin tone and slight stubble.

"It upset me because ... it would be so easy to fall into this trap," said Vance Mitchell Pasadena Police spokesperson. "It's very dangerous this thing can escalate very quickly if one of the victims tries to do something to defend themselves."

The suspect was wearing a felt Stetson-style cowboy hat, sunglasses, tan long sleeve uniform shirt, gold badge and dark brown or black pants. He had a semi-automatic pistol in a plastic style holster.

His vehicle is described as a dark-colored sedan, possibly a Ford Crown Victoria with police-style lights near the top of the front windshield.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department at 713-477-1221 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Callers who wish to remain anonymous should contact Crime Stoppers. Information provided by the caller to Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest of the suspect is eligible for a cash reward up to $5,000.