Staff reports

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning about a fake policing vehicle.
According to a press release issues Thursday, deputies stopped a 2015 White Chevy Tahoe that was rigged out to look like a law enforcement vehicle. It was equipped with two separate light bars and a black push guard mounted on the front with two siren speakers.  It had the appearance of an unmarked unit.
According to Captain Crystal Holmes, the sheriff’s office had no documented complaints of citizens having been stopped by this vehicle. However, Holmes noted that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office does not have a white Tahoe neither marked nor un-marked.
If anyone was stopped by this vehicle, Holmes is asking for the person to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 409-835-8411 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Request to speak to a Detective in CID.
The driver of the vehicle was not identified and was not ticketed and the driver had a clear record. Holmes noted there could be legitimate, legal reasons to rig a car to appear as a law enforcement vehicle.
“It could be a private security vehicle,” she said. “And sometimes you have emergency volunteer first responders with vehicles like this. But also people who are impersonating police officers have these vehicles. So we’re trying to be cautious to make sure he hasn’t stopped anyone and we wanted to use this as an opportunity to remind folks that if you don’t know the vehicle is a law enforcement vehicle don’t stop, but slow down.”
Holmes suggested if drivers are unsure of the vehicles origins, they should slow down, put on the emergency flashers and continue driving to the next well lit open business prior to pulling over.
Drivers could also call 911 to verify with the dispatcher that the vehicle with the flashing lights is a law enforcement officer.