Des Peres police say man impersonated officer to try to get date
By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/10/2007
Des Peres — Police arrested a man accused of using a fake badge to pull over and ask out a young woman in Des Peres, and are seeking anyone else similarly approached.
The suspect, 28, has not yet been charged.
"I very seriously doubt this was his first time," said Des Peres police Capt. Charles Milano. "I bet he's done this before."
Police said the man flashed a badge Monday at a young woman driving east on Manchester Road in Des Peres. She stopped, and he told her she had committed a license plate violation. Advertisement
When she asked whether she was going to get a ticket, he told her he was a federal agent and asked her to go out for lunch or a drink. She declined, and he gave her a phone number.
After she reported the incident, police used the number to arrange a meeting. They found a "Fugitive Recovery Agent" badge, a stolen credit card and someone else's Social Security card on the suspect, Milano said. The credit card had been used in St. Louis and Jefferson counties.
Investigators found an empty holster, handcuffs and a stun gun in the trunk of his late-model Chrysler Sebring, Milano said.
Police are seeking charges involving the credit cards and impersonation of an officer. The FBI also is investigating.
The suspect is already on probation for credit card charges, Milano said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Des Peres police at 314-835-6200 or the FBI at 314-589-2500
rpatrick@post-dispatch.com | 314-621-5154
