Hall County sheriff’s investigators are searching for a man believed to be impersonating an officer.
The suspect stopped two teenage victims as they were traveling on Cornelia Highway/SR 365 on the night of September 30, 2023. The man was driving a black sedan with a blue light bar on the top of the vehicle.
During the traffic stop, the man approached the victims in their vehicle and told them he was going to write them a ticket for reckless driving. The driver gave the suspect her license and he took a photo of it. He left the scene without giving any documentation to the victims.
The sheriff’s office determined there were no legitimate traffic stops performed in that area at the time the incident occurred.
The teens identified the suspect as a white man between 40 and 50 years old. He was either bald or had very short, light-colored hair, a scruffy beard, and crooked yellow teeth.
Each victim met separately with GBI sketch artist Kelly Lawson and provided descriptions of the suspect. Law enforcement points out the images are strikingly similar with only minor differences.
Anyone who recognizes this man is asked to contact Hall County Dispatch at 770-536-8812 to make a report.
Your rights as a motorist during a traffic stop
Getting pulled over at night or in a deserted area can be scary, especially for women, teens, and those driving alone. If you see blue lights in your rearview mirror and don’t feel safe pulling over where you are, you do have the right to proceed to a safe location.
“A motorist is absolutely within his or her legal rights to proceed to a well-lit area off the road if the motorist feels unsafe,” says Lt. Todd Casper with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division.”In fact, an officer/deputy prefers a motorist pull to an area where traffic is not speeding by; it’s safer for the motorist and the deputy.”
While moving to a safe area there are several steps you should follow:
- Slow down below the posted speed limit. If you are speeding and continue at a high rate of speed, an officer may think you’re trying to elude them.
- Turn on your vehicle’s emergency flashers to signal to the officer that you are aware you’re being pulled over.
- If you suspect the vehicle attempting to make the stop is not a legitimate law enforcement vehicle, call 911. Ask if a deputy/officer/trooper is attempting a traffic stop in your location. Keep in mind, law enforcement jurisdictions sometimes overlap and a local 911 operator may not be able to immediately determine what officer is working in that area at that time.
