Police are on the lookout for a man who allegedly impersonated an officer to scam a woman into giving him her car.
The theft happened on Public Square, where she parked in front of Tower City in Cleveland, around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday (January 19).
The Cleveland Police Department issued a press release Friday (January 22), seeking help from the public to identify the fraudulent officer who is now wanted for impersonating a police officer and grand theft motor vehicle.
“The male showed (the victim) a badge, told her that she was illegally parked, asked for her ID and acted as if he was checking her through Radio Dispatch,” the Cleveland Police Department explained. “The male told the victim to leave her keys and go inside Tower City to get the person she was waiting for. The victim did as instructed and the male drove away in the victims vehicle.”
An officer found the stolen car about an hour later in a driveway on East 59th Street. A man apparently pulled into the driveway, got out, repeatedly kicked the side door and left on foot. The occupant of the home contacted police, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Police released a photo of the man accused of carjacking someone while posing as an officer.
Anyone with information should call investigators at 216-623-5318.
Photo: Cleveland Police Department