Suspect impersonating police conducts bogus traffic stop in Santa Ana

Santa Ana police asked Wednesday for the public’s help in arresting a police impostor.

The suspect, driving a blackJjeep Cherokee with tinted windows, pulled over a vehicle about 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, police said. The Jeep, which had no license plates, had spotlights on it.

The suspect pulled in front of the victims and stopped near the intersection of Myrtle Street and Franklin Avenue, police said. The handgun-toting suspect got out of the Jeep and approached the victims, wearing a vest with the words “police” or “FBI” on it, police said.

The suspect ordered the victim out of the vehicle, searched the victim and then took $200 before getting back into the Jeep and driving away, police said.

The suspect is a Latino man about 40 to 45 years old who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and has a heavy build. He had short, black hair, a mustache and a medium complexion.

Anyone who has information helpful to investigators was asked to call Det. David Prewett at 714-245-8323 or email him at dprewett@santa-ana.org.