News 12 at 6 o'clock / Friday, Aug. 10, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Deputies are looking for a man pretending to be one of them after he allegedly pulled over a woman and stole her license.

Patricia Wiggins is still on edge.

"I got a baseball bat, a pool stick and a sledge hammer," the young mother said.

She also brought an ax into her home after a fake cop pulled her over last week.

"I got scared. Really scared," Wiggins said.

Wiggins was driving home last Friday night when she said an officer pulled her over along Deans Bridge Road.

"A car blue-lighted me and pulled me over," she said.

At first glance, Wiggins thought a Richmond County deputy pulled her over.

"The uniform was all black. It had the black button-up shirt," she said.

At the time, she didn't realize that Richmond County deputies don't wear black uniformed shirts.

Wiggins also noticed the patrol car.

"It looked like a silver and black Richmond County thing, except the decal was faded," she said.

The man in uniform asked her if she knew she speeding, then asked for a Breathalyzer. She took the test and passed.

She began to think something wasn't right when she says the officer suddenly hopped back into his car with her license and sped off.

"(He) busted a u-turn and went back towards Gordon Highway," Wiggins said.

Wiggins called dispatch who told her that they did not have a record of an officer pulling her over.

She filled out an incident report, but she didn't began to really worry until a few days later.

"My license shows up here at this address when my address is not on my license," she said.

Wiggins is not sure how the fake cop figured out where she lives, but somehow her stolen ID ended up in her mailbox.

"That can be one of the worst crimes committed, if someone uses false pretenses and plays himself out to be a police officer. A lot of the public is trusting," said Lt. Blaise Dresser.

Richmond County deputies are investigating to find the impersonating officer.

Dresser advices the public to always pull over for blue lights.

However, if you suspect the person pulling you isn't a real officer, then make sure you pull over in a safe public place and turn on your hazards. Also, check out the officer's badge because it will show his or her department. If you are still unsure, call 911 and ask dispatch whether they have an officer pulling you over.

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