Post by HMWMDSpecialist on Jul 28, 2007 16:04:40 GMT -5
7-year-old girl credited for ID'ing police impersonator
By Tyler Miller The Record Herald
7-year-old Emilyann Martinez, right, with her 5-year-old sister Abbylynn.
ZULLINGER - A police impersonator in the Waynesboro area has reportedly been apprehended thanks to his unmistakable hair style and the astute observation skills of a 7-year-old girl.
Waynesboro residents Sandy Martinez and her two daughters, Emilyann, 7, and Abbylynn, 5, were headed toward Zullinger on Route 16 around 10:45 p.m. Friday after having attended a carnival in Greencastle.
Just east of Shady Grove, a white Chevrolet Blazer with flashing blue lights abruptly sped up behind their vehicle within a few feet of the bumper, according to Martinez.
“It looked like one of our local police SUV-type patrol cars,” said Martinez, 37. “I slowed down and pulled over (off the road).”
A minute passed but no one exited the SUV as its lights continued flashing. Instead, as Martinez recounts, the driver revved his engine and pulled back and forth, inching toward her vehicle before backing away, then repeating the movement.
Martinez quickly wondered if the Blazer was a legitimate law enforcement SUV but was afraid to take off for fear the vehicle actually carried a police officer.
Power over people
As Martinez's suspicions surfaced, the Blazer pulled out around her and drove by. Its passenger window and Martinez's driver window were rolled down, and she said she could see a man and woman inside pointing and laughing as they passed.
“It was very obvious they were enjoying what they were doing - the power they had over people,” she said, estimating the pair was in their mid-20s.
Martinez flipped on her high beams and followed the SUV on Route 16 to get the license plate number, which she said had a firefighter marking.
“On the one hand, as scared as I was, I was also kind of mad,” she said of following the Blazer without knowing who was in it or what their intentions had been.
The driver made obscene gestures out the window and sped up and slowed down, she said. The SUV ducked into a side street, and Martinez stopped at Arturo's Pizzeria on Route 16.
The restaurant was closed, but staff members were cleaning up from dinner and allowed her and her daughters to call 911 and wait for authorities to arrive.
‘The true hero'
A Washington Township Police officer reached the pizzeria within minutes and asked if Martinez could identify the driver.
Martinez replied that she only caught a passing glance, but Emilyann immediately raised her hand and said she would recognize the man because “he had spiky hair” that was short and black.
“I almost said, ‘Emily, be quiet; this is adult business,'” said Martinez. “Parents: Listen when your children have something to say.”
According to Martinez, the officer assured her they had the vehicle pulled over nearby.
Martinez admitted she doesn't know whether the Blazer was carrying young adults getting their kicks from impersonating law enforcement, or whether they were “predators” looking for automobiles with single women or young children.
Either way, she said their actions were inexcusable.
Emilyann, meanwhile, is sporting a brand-new T-shirt with a design created by her mother that says, “I'm a Real True Life Hero.” Her sister Abbylynn has a matching shirt that reads “I'm the Little Sister of a Real True Life Hero.”
“I'm happy that I can make my friends safe,” said Emilyann of her actions Friday night.
“As far as I am concerned, Emilyann is the true hero in this,” said Martinez. “I don't ever want to have to go through anything like (this) again.”
A spokeswoman with Washington Township police said yesterday the department is investigating a report of police impersonation, but no further details were available. Police Chief Barry Keller said this morning the officer who investigated the incident has not finished writing his report.
By Tyler Miller The Record Herald
7-year-old Emilyann Martinez, right, with her 5-year-old sister Abbylynn.
ZULLINGER - A police impersonator in the Waynesboro area has reportedly been apprehended thanks to his unmistakable hair style and the astute observation skills of a 7-year-old girl.
Waynesboro residents Sandy Martinez and her two daughters, Emilyann, 7, and Abbylynn, 5, were headed toward Zullinger on Route 16 around 10:45 p.m. Friday after having attended a carnival in Greencastle.
Just east of Shady Grove, a white Chevrolet Blazer with flashing blue lights abruptly sped up behind their vehicle within a few feet of the bumper, according to Martinez.
“It looked like one of our local police SUV-type patrol cars,” said Martinez, 37. “I slowed down and pulled over (off the road).”
A minute passed but no one exited the SUV as its lights continued flashing. Instead, as Martinez recounts, the driver revved his engine and pulled back and forth, inching toward her vehicle before backing away, then repeating the movement.
Martinez quickly wondered if the Blazer was a legitimate law enforcement SUV but was afraid to take off for fear the vehicle actually carried a police officer.
Power over people
As Martinez's suspicions surfaced, the Blazer pulled out around her and drove by. Its passenger window and Martinez's driver window were rolled down, and she said she could see a man and woman inside pointing and laughing as they passed.
“It was very obvious they were enjoying what they were doing - the power they had over people,” she said, estimating the pair was in their mid-20s.
Martinez flipped on her high beams and followed the SUV on Route 16 to get the license plate number, which she said had a firefighter marking.
“On the one hand, as scared as I was, I was also kind of mad,” she said of following the Blazer without knowing who was in it or what their intentions had been.
The driver made obscene gestures out the window and sped up and slowed down, she said. The SUV ducked into a side street, and Martinez stopped at Arturo's Pizzeria on Route 16.
The restaurant was closed, but staff members were cleaning up from dinner and allowed her and her daughters to call 911 and wait for authorities to arrive.
‘The true hero'
A Washington Township Police officer reached the pizzeria within minutes and asked if Martinez could identify the driver.
Martinez replied that she only caught a passing glance, but Emilyann immediately raised her hand and said she would recognize the man because “he had spiky hair” that was short and black.
“I almost said, ‘Emily, be quiet; this is adult business,'” said Martinez. “Parents: Listen when your children have something to say.”
According to Martinez, the officer assured her they had the vehicle pulled over nearby.
Martinez admitted she doesn't know whether the Blazer was carrying young adults getting their kicks from impersonating law enforcement, or whether they were “predators” looking for automobiles with single women or young children.
Either way, she said their actions were inexcusable.
Emilyann, meanwhile, is sporting a brand-new T-shirt with a design created by her mother that says, “I'm a Real True Life Hero.” Her sister Abbylynn has a matching shirt that reads “I'm the Little Sister of a Real True Life Hero.”
“I'm happy that I can make my friends safe,” said Emilyann of her actions Friday night.
“As far as I am concerned, Emilyann is the true hero in this,” said Martinez. “I don't ever want to have to go through anything like (this) again.”
A spokeswoman with Washington Township police said yesterday the department is investigating a report of police impersonation, but no further details were available. Police Chief Barry Keller said this morning the officer who investigated the incident has not finished writing his report.
