Police Impersonator Asks For $20 To Call It Even

INDIANAPOLIS -- Authorities are searching for a man who impersonated an officer in a traffic stop earlier this week.

The victim, James Coy, told 6News' Dan Spehler that the impersonator drove a white Ford Crown Victoria.

The impersonator didn't use a siren to make the stop, but honked his horn several times and turned on his flashing red and blue lights, Coy said.

Coy said he thought a detective had pulled him over on Indianapolis' east side, at English Avenue.

"A guy came walking up and asked me for my driver's license and I cracked open my wallet," Coy said. "He started to walk back toward his car and made the comment, 'Give me $20 and we'll call this a done deal.'"

Coy said he was amazed and knew the man wasn't a real officer.

"It's a situation you won't find a police officer doing," said Indianapolis Metro police Lt. Doug Scheffel. "He was telling him for $20, he could let this go ... It tipped the individual off that something wasn't right."

Coy said that when he told the man, who wasn't wearing a uniform, that he wanted to see another officer and a badge, the man went back to his car, turned off his lights and drove away.

Police confirmed that they did not have anyone working traffic in the area when Coy was pulled over

"It seems like the majority of (impersonation) cases we find are people that want to be police officers and, for whatever reason, haven't been able to attain that level," Scheffel said.

Police said anyone who is pulled over and is unsure they are dealing with a real officer should ask to see a photo ID.

"We'll usually be in uniform and have some type of formal identification with us," Scheffel said. "We take it personal and we don't like for it to happen."