Detectives trying to find man they say impersonated an officer at Albion College
ALBION, Mich. Sept 10 2020 — Calhoun County Sheriff investigators are trying to find a man they say pretended to be a police officer and stopped at least one Albion College student on campus.
Calhoun County deputies said a male student was walking on campus when about 1 a.m. Aug. 28, 2020, a man in a white Chevrolet Impala with emergency lights asked if he could pat him down. After doing so, the man left, deputies said. The student told deputies the man identified himself as a police officer.
“And even if he isn’t, you still have to go with it. And assume that he is. You know? Or else you’re in a lot of danger in that situation,” said Albion College sophomore Teagin Boyle.
Boyle said he is friends with the student who was approached.
“I actually hung out with him that same night. After it happened actually,” Boyle said. “He was kind of shook about it. Like shook up, as you would be. That’s a scary thing to happen. It’s really weird to think that would happen on this campus,”
An investigation showed no officers from Albion Department of Public Safety, Albion College or the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the student.
The investigation also found the vehicle the suspect was driving was a retired police cruiser.
Deputies executed a search warrant at the home of a 30-year-old man on Tuesday in the 17000 block of 20 1/2 Mile Road. Deputies interviewed the man, and searched the residence, but the man has not been arrested.
Calhoun County Sheriff Detective Dave Homminga said there are steps people can take to be sure officers are legitimate law enforcement.
“If you’re concerned that the individual isn’t a legitimate police officer in your community, you can make contact with 911 to see if the patrol vehicle is actually on a stop. If not, at least you’ll notify dispatch you’re being stopped by an impersonator,” Homminga said. “Even like myself, a detective, we still carry some form of credentials, or an insignia to show that we are associated with a police department.”
He said the department is investigating whether others were approached by the suspect. Homminga described him as a white male, about six feet tall, muscular, and in his young 30s. He said the suspect was wearing black clothing with no police markings.
“I wouldn’t say that he’s dangerous, but definitely be aware, alert to your surroundings,” Homminga said.
Boyle said he has a message for the man who scared his friend.
“You definitely should not do that. If I know who you are, and you’re on campus, we’re gonna have a problem,” he said.
Homminga said anyone with any information about the suspect, or footage of what happened, should contact the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office.
The department is working on obtaining surveillance footage. Homminga said impersonating an officer is a serious crime that can be a one-year misdemeanor up to a four-year felony, if the person commits other crimes while impersonating law enforcement.
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