ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160098
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
Town police are looking for a man suspected of impersonating a police officer and committing strong-arm robbery.
Police said the man approached a resident of Heritage Acres apartments about 7:40 p.m. Sunday and told him he was under arrest for drinking beer in public.
The resident questioned the suspect's identity and the suspect flashed an identification card, but not a badge. The suspect then asked for $20 to prevent an arrest. When the man refused, the suspect asked for $10.
The victim shouted for help, and the suspect grabbed a gold necklace, valued at $150, from the victim's neck and ran away.
The suspect was carrying a portable radio or police scanner and is described as a 6-foot white male weighing 170 pounds. He has a light complexion and reddish-blonde, shoulder-length hair. Police said the suspect later identified himself to a witness as "Tim.''
Lt. Bruce Bradbery said residents should be aware that law enforcement officers do occasionally work in plain clothes, but they always carry badges and will show them. Anyone who has a question about an officer's identity should call 911 to verify credentials, he said.
Anyone with information about the suspect should call the Blacksburg Police Department, 961-1150. Anonymous tips can be left on the department's tip line, 961-1819.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB