BARTLETT, Tenn. — Bartlett Police are investigating a “suspicious circumstances” case, in which a man used a loudspeaker to pull someone over.
The man was not able to provide any information to identify himself as an officer.
Surprisingly, it was a teenager who called the man on it.
“I’ve been wanting to be a police officer since I was little, so when I didn’t see a badge on him, I knew something was up,” said 18-year-old high school student Dalton Stafford.
Stafford said he was driving on Yale, near Memphis Arlington, after dropping off a friend about a week and a half ago.
A dark car, possibly a Dodge Charger, got behind him.
The man inside called out to Stafford over a loudspeaker, telling him he was a cop.
Stafford recalled the man told him, “pull over now or I will call back up.”
Stafford stopped in Nesbit Park on Yale.
He said the man’s car did not have emergency lights, and the guy switched his headlights off.
When the man approached Stafford’s car, Stafford saw he was in a red jacket, not a uniform.
Stafford knew the question to ask.
“He said, ‘Roll the window down,” so I say, ‘Can I see your badge?’ So, he said, ‘Roll the window down now.’ I said, ‘Can I see your badge?’ And I drove off,” Stafford said.
When the man refused to give Stafford his badge information, Stafford took off.
People at the park Thursday were shocked to learn a possible police impersonator could be patrolling the area.
“I just find it like your worst nightmare,” said park-goer Linda Porterfield.
After getting away, Stafford drove home and told his parents what happened. They called the real police.
“I’m just thankful he watches enough police shows and is alert enough to do that, because it could have really gone bad,” said Stafford’s mother, Bridgett.
She said she wants to spread the word to prevent something bad from happening to somebody else.
Bartlett Police said they have not arrested the man yet. So far, police do not have any other reports of this suspect doing the same thing to anyone else.
Stafford said the man was in his mid 20s to early 30s, about six feet tall, and clean shaven. He said the man had a slim build and a buzz haircut.
