Police impersonator pulls over girl, 17, in Barrington

Police are on the lookout for an impersonator who pulled over a 17-year-old girl in Barrington and asked her to get out of her vehicle.

The man was driving an unmarked car behind the victim's vehicle on Northwest Highway, when he turned on a red flashing light at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.

The girl pulled off onto 20th Street just west of the Foundry Shopping Center in Barrington and the man told her he stopped her for speeding, police said.

The victim gave the man her driver's license, and during the stop he seemed more interested with personal questions such as where she worked and where she went to school, according to police.

He then asked her to get out of the car, but the girl refused and asked if she could leave, police said. The man said yes, and the girl was not assaulted or threatened, according to police.

The man was wearing a dark-colored shirt with a shiny badge on his chest, but there were no police patches or other insignia visible on the shirt, according to police.

The vehicle was a dark blue or black four-door sedan and the suspect was described as a white male between 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Police said he was not muscular.

Police said he seemed uncertain of what he was saying and paused often while speaking to the girl. He turned off all the lights on his vehicle during the stop, which an actual officer would not do.

Police suggest pulling over in a public and well lit location if being stopped by a police car that looks suspicious and urge anyone who may be in a similar situation to call 911 during the stop.