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Two Cop Impersonators Robbing Fast-Food Restaurants
The News Tribune via YellowBrix
November 03, 2009
Two men who have posed as police to rob Pierce County fast-food restaurant managers apparently struck again over the weekend and may be ramping up their violence, authorities reported Monday.
Tacoma police believe the men robbed and sexually assaulted a woman heading home from her job at a Lakewood fast-food restaurant early Sunday. During the robbery, they also handcuffed her boyfriend and put him in the trunk of the car.
It is the first time a victim has been sexually assaulted during the robbery spree, and the apparent escalation in the robbers’ behavior has local law enforcement authorities concerned. Investigators from Tacoma police, Lakewood police and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department met Monday afternoon to discuss the incidents.
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“It is a concern of ours,” Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. “We are working with the other agencies to identify these suspects and get them off the streets.”
Investigators believe the two men are responsible for four incidents since early October.
In two of the cases, the bandits stopped fast-food managers leaving their stores shortly after closing, forced them back to their restaurants at gunpoint and robbed them. The robbers’ vehicle had red-and-blue flashing lights, police reported.
In a third incident, the robbers stopped a car and demanded the keys from the victim. The victim ran away, and the robbers left empty-handed.
The fourth and most recent incident occurred about 2:40 a.m. Sunday.
Two men followed a woman home from her job at a fast-food restaurant in Lakewood, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. In the 1900 block of East 56th Street, the men stopped the woman and her boyfriend and held them up at gunpoint.
After putting her boyfriend into the trunk, the two suspects demanded keys to the restaurant from the woman. When they realized she didn’t have them, the suspects took her to a nearby wooded area and raped her, police said.
The suspects then fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
Fulghum advised fast-food restaurant employees and others to be aware of their surroundings.
beejac
23 days ago
494 Comments
I think there is too much attention to "Impersonators" instead of "Violent Criminals".These creeps are dangerous felons and are using the fake police ploy to take down their victims. It is a matter of time before they kill someone.
msdiva
23 days ago
742 Comments
Well Clobster, I live in Tacoma and this crime is heinous for any town. We dont have any better or any worse crime than any other city in Washington. I dont know what company your contracted with all the way down here in our "armpit". But I have personally never heard of Tacoma being referred to as such, and I am a native Washingtonian. Bottom line is whether these POS are in Tacoma or the backwoods of Okanogan, they need to be caught before they kill someone.
Whalewatcher
23 days ago
1500 Comments
These guys need to be caught quickly, before they kill someone ....
hbg522
23 days ago
5738 Comments
hope they are caught before this turns deadly
darsavmo
23 days ago
5812 Comments
Because of crap like this a real police officer could be shot by someone thinking they are an impersonator...
95Zcar
23 days ago
2414 Comments
This kind of crime, with an impersonator, needs to carry a minimum sentence of 5 years even if it is a wannabe showing a shield to a passing motorist.
Irishcop1961
23 days ago
15506 Comments
This impersonator stuff is getting out of hand. Time to pass tougher laws for POS that do this crime.
FloridaTrooper
23 days ago
220 Comments
Wannabes
cgregor12
23 days ago
2574 Comments
Damn Impersonators.....Their everywhere nowadays...,
clobster
23 days ago
584 Comments
I live a little less than an hour from Tacoma/Pierce County. This is not surprising for that area. Tacoma is commonly referred to as the armpit of Washington State by many at my company who is contracted with their fire department down there. I hope they catch the scumbags.
fplasencia
23 days ago
5382 Comments
The "Impersonators".... Again.