Police Impersonator Targets The Elderly
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- There's a safety alert in this city as Miami Police are asking for help from the public locating a violent police impersonator who has also abducted one of his seven victims.
Authorities say there has been a nationwide increase in complaints about Police impersonators. Detectives are particularly concerned about this latest Police impersonator because they worry the level of violence will escalate.
"Somebody could get really hurt if we don't this guy," said Sgt. Freddie Cruz of the Miami Police Department.
"We want to get this guy off the street," Cruz told CBS4's Peter D'Oench. "We don't want the community in fear about because of this impersonator. We want people to call 911 if they think they have run into a police impersonator."
"If people feel they have any doubts they should grab their cell phone and call 911 and an officer will come and if you need to, you should ask for a supervisor," said Cruz. "Tell them you want an officer in uniform to respond. We want to make sure a real officer is stopping you."
"Officers must show their badge and identification," Cruz said. "I am worried because in one case, the impersonator used a gun and he did abduct one victim."
According to Miami Police investigators, the suspect approached his victims, almost all of them elderly in their 60s and 70s and identified himself as a police officer.
In all seven cases, the man was wearing a black shirt with the word "Police."
Cruz told D'Oench that this police impersonator did not say what city he was from.
The first robbery took place on March 3rd, and the most recent on March 29th.
He has demanded cash, jewelry, cell phones, and identification from his victims and become violent with a couple of them when he either punched them or pushed them to the ground. In one case, he kidnapped his victim at gunpoint and released him shortly after.
One victim, Rafael Acsina, said "He came over to me and told me to put my hands. I thought he was a police officer."
Another victim was a 68-year-old Miami-Dade school teacher who was approached by the Police impersonator, who threw him to the ground and stole his cell phone and gold chain.
The suspect is described as a white, Latin male, 25-35 years-old, 5'10-5'11, 190-200 lbs., short hair, and tattoos on both arms. The suspect is possibly driving a black, Ford Taurus, four-door, with tinted windows. This suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Miami Police Department's Robbery Unit at (305) 603-6370. You can also remain anonymous by calling Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471- TIPS (4877), visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or Send a text message to 274637. Enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.
