A Virginia man impersonated a police officer and targeted a woman driving in her car, attempting to initiate contact with her and ultimately following her across three states, officers said.
Jerry Saintvil, 28, was pulled over in Washington, Maryland, on Route 29, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with impersonating an officer before.
“The thought is, was she going to follow her when she stopped to get gas or to pull over to rest and initiate contact. It’s something we’re looking into. It’s very concerning given his prior criminal history,” Sgt. James Hartman told WTOP.
The vehicle that Saintvil was driving was wrapped with a logo that said “Police” and “911.”
Saintvil told deputies that the car was being used in a music video in Winchester, Virginia and he was driving it home to Fredericksburg, reported Fox 5.
Officers found tactical equipment, an air gun, a Department of Justice badge, and other items inside the vehicle.
The woman was driving through Western Maryland when she noticed the vehicle following her. She called the police in multiple places as she traveled through West Virginia into Fauquier County, a move that officers said was “the right thing.”
There was never an indication that Saintvil attempted to pull the woman over, but he did activate blue lights several times when he needed to speed past vehicles to catch back up with her.
Saintvil is being held without bond at the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center on charges of impersonating a police officer, providing false ID to law enforcement to avoid arrest, and driving on a suspended license.
Hartman said that anyone unsure if they’re encountering a real police officer can call 911.
“You can always call 911 and ask a dispatcher to verify, ‘Is this a real police officer trying to pull me over?'” he said.
“You can go to a well-lit, well-populated area such as a shopping center or a gas station or something like that where you would feel more comfortable having people around to try to find out is this a legitimate police stop. And always a police officer when he approaches you will identify himself.”
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