Police: Man Impersonated Officer, Followed Woman

A man accused of impersonating a police officer and following a woman pleaded no contest on Tuesday.

Lee Caspari, 37, was being held at the Tri-County Regional Jail on charges relating to a fake traffic stop, 10TV’s Jason Frazer reported.

According to investigators, Caspari was driving a white Crown Victoria police car when he stopped a woman.

Beth Patterson said that she was stopped by a man matching Caspari’s description.

“He followed right behind me,” Patterson said. “Every time my turn signal went on, his turn signal went on.”

Patterson said that she was coming home early Tuesday morning when a man matching Caspari’s description started following her. She said that she though the man driving the Crown Victoria was an undercover officer.

A few minutes later, Patterson said that she pulled over.

“I never put the vehicle in park,” Patterson said. “I kept my foot on the gas. The way he approached my driver’s door was to the side. He was approaching me like he was a police officer.”

Patterson said she knew something was wrong when she did not see a badge, just the man’s green coat.

“And he said, ‘Hey, I’m new to the area, and I’m looking for a party,’” Patterson said.

Patterson said she was able to get away and drive nearly a mile, when she flagged down an officer in uniform.

Minutes later, another woman called 911 and said she also was stopped by someone pretending to be a police officer, Frazer reported.

The descriptions of both fake stops were similar, police said.

Marysville police Chief Floyd Golden said that both the women did the right thing.

“The second one drove off also and called 911 and said this person was following them,” Golden said. “It’s much better than perhaps trying to get out of your car and trying to run in someplace.”

Golden said that Caspari had been on the department’s radar before, when Caspari allegedly walked into a bar and said he was an undercover police officer.

Police said that Caspari served as a volunteer police officer in Indiana, Frazer reported.

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