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Police: Woman Lied About Fake Cop, 'Stun Gun' Attack

Posted on: Friday, 1 February 2008, 03:00 CST

A woman who told Mesquite police that a man posing as a police officer pulled her over and shocked her with a stun gun may now face a charge of filing a false police report.

Shelby Lee Knight-Lacey told police she was pulled over at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 635 at Town East Boulevard by a man driving a white vehicle that looked like a police cruiser with red and blue flashing lights on the dashboard.

Mesquite Lt. Steve Callarman said Ms. Knight-Lacey provided details about her alleged attacker including that the man was wearing a blue uniform with no patches or badge and had a hoop earring in his left ear. She also described a spider tattoo on the back of his right hand.

She then told police the man stunned her with what she described as a "cattle prod" and that she managed to escape.

Her story, however, began to unravel when investigators reviewed security cameras installed in the area before the holiday season. Video from those locations showed that the report was false, police said.

"Eventually Ms. Knight-Lacey told investigators she had been arguing with her husband about money and made up the whole story to get sympathy," Mesquite police said in a news release.

Blisters on her wrist from cigarette ashes inspired her to include a stun baton in the alleged incident, Lt. Callarman said.

Mesquite police said investigators were now preparing a false report case to be filed at a later date.

Her story came days after two other cases of police impersonaters were reported in North Texas.

On Jan. 23, a woman reported she was pulled over and searched by a man impersonating an officer in the 5100 block of Rufe Snow Drive, North Richland Hills police said.

The woman was driving into a parking lot when she saw flashing blue and red lights on a white four-door vehicle, North Richland Hills police said. She was then approached by a man wearing a dark-colored shirt who had no identification that he was an officer.

The woman told police "North Richland Hills" or "Richland Hills" was printed on the passenger side door in large block type letters.

The man took down information from the woman's driver's license and proceeded to search her car and purse. He then asked a series of questions the woman deemed to be inappropriate, North Richland Hills police said. She called authorities immediately after he left.

"If they truly believe that it is not an officer because there is nothing that identifies them as such, call 911," said North Richland Hills Police investigator Larry Irving.

The woman described the man as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 30 to 35 years old with strawberry blond hair and a stocky build. Anyone with information should call police at 817-427-7000.

On Jan. 25, Hurst police responded to a report of a teen posing as an officer. A 17-year-old has been charged for impersonating a public servant, said Lt. Mark Schwobel of the Hurst Police Department.

PROTECTION AGAINST IMPERSONATERS

North Richland Hills Police investigator Larry Irving offers some tips on how to verify you are dealing with a real police officer:

-- A police uniform will have a patch identifying the city where the officer works.

-- The officer will most likely be wearing a duty belt along with a name tag and badge with an identification number.

-- Cars will be marked with the officer's agency.

-- In North Richland Hills, unmarked units do not make traffic stops.

-- Be aware and call 911 if something seems suspicious.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

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