Cocoa PD issues public advisory after man impersonates police officer in traffic stop

Man followed driver to bank, threatened to impound vehicle

COCOA, Fla. – Authorities are looking for a man who impersonated a police officer, pulling over a driver, threatening to impound his car and following him to a bank to withdraw cash, officers said Friday night.

The Cocoa Police Department learned of the incident about 11 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release.

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The victim in the case told investigators he was driving south on U.S. Highway 1, approaching Michigan Avenue, when he spotted a white vehicle with red and blue lights, right behind him.

The man thought he was getting pulled over by police, so he stopped his car.

A person who appeared to be with law enforcement approached the car, flashed some sort of badge, stated that he was a police officer -- telling the driver his auto insurance had expired, the victim told police.

The “officer” threatened to impound the vehicle if the situation wasn’t resolved, so he agreed to follow the victim to a bank, so that the victim could take out money.

The victim withdrew $100, handed it over and the fake officer took off.

He’s described as having dirty blonde hair, standing around 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. The man wore a white polo shirt that was embroidered with the words “BCS Brevard County,” and he had on a green plastic name tag that said “Hudgins.”

The man also carried a possible pepper-spray canister. He drove a four-door, white Chevy Impala.

Anyone who ever doubts a stop by law enforcement is encouraged to call 911 to verify. Any traffic stop is always called in to the dispatch center, officials said.