ABC27 WHTM Woman attacked by police impersonator

Woman attacked by police impersonator

A woman ordered out of her car by a man pretending to be a law enforcement officer was hit in the back and punched in the face, according to police in suburban Harrisburg.

Lower Paxton Township police said the woman had pulled out of the parking lot of a convenience store at Linglestown and Colonial roads Wednesday evening when she saw a driver behind her flashing his high beam headlights.

Assuming the driver to be law enforcement, the woman pulled over and was soon approached at her window. The man identified himself as a police officer and asked for her license and registration, police said.

The imposter told the woman there was a problem with her rear lighting and ordered her out of the vehicle. When she got out, the man attacked her and then fled north on Colonial Road, police said.

Police said the imposter was described as a tall, thin black man in his 40's, with brown eyes, black hair with a white patch, and a scar on his neck. He was wearing jeans and a black button-down shirt.

His car was a gray four-door sedan and possibly had a backseat transport cage, according to police.

The victim's injuries did not require treatment.

Police said they have no reason to doubt her story.

Anyone with information may call police at 657-5656, leave an anonymous tip at 724-8317, or call Crime Stoppers at (800) 262-3080.