2 Manitoba women report fake police officer pulled them over, Selkirk RCMP say

Selkirk RCMP have arrested a 32-year-old man for personating a peace officer after he allegedly pulled over women driving down Highway 9, claiming to be an off-duty RCMP officer, a news release says.

A woman driving near Petersfield, Man.,on Sept. 30was pulled over by a pickup truck with emergency lights, RCMP said.

After stopping her, theman driving the pickup accused the woman of speeding, while claiming to be an RCMP officer who was off duty.

The man left after the woman asked himforidentification to prove who he was, police said.

The incident was reported to Selkirk RCMPonMondayaround 9:05 p.m.,and they did patrols in the area in an attempt to locatethe pickup truckbut were unsuccessful.

The next morning,SelkirkRCMPreceived another report of a woman being pulled over by a man who said she was speeding and using her bright lights. Thatwoman also asked the man for identification and he left, police said.

The second incident happened on Highway 9 near Clandeboye, Man., around 8p.m.on Monday.

At 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday, RCMPwent to a home on Highway 9 in the regional municipality of St. Andrewsthat they believed to be the home of the personinvolved in the reports.

After speaking with the resident of the home,policegot a search warrant and Selkirk RCMP, the RCMP emergency response team and the RCMP East District crime reduction enforcement support team searched it on Thursday.

Numerous items were seized from the residence, police said, including lighting equipment for a vehicle, pepper spray, portable radiosand firearms.

The man has since been released under a promise to appear incourt at a later date.

Selkirk RCMP thanked the women in a news release for reporting the incidents, saying the information provided in the reports helped the RCMPto quickly identify and arrest a suspect in this case.