2005-01-20
Two men posing as law enforcement officers pulled over a young woman driving on U.S. 411 South early Wednesday morning but were apparently scared off by another vehicle that passed the scene.
Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider said the 21-year-old woman fortunately escaped with only some scratches, but the incident could easily have had a much more serious outcome.
Guider asked for help from citizens in identifying and locating the two men.
The young woman told Loudon County investigators she was pulled over by two men in a white Ford Crown Victoria with a blue strobe light on the dashboard and a spotlight on the driver's side of the car. She said the car was similar to unmarked vehicles used by area law enforcement agencies.
The victim said she was southbound on U.S. 411 in Loudon County nearing the Monroe County line when she was pulled over. She said the men wearing what looked like officers' jackets with patches on them got her out of her car and around behind it, then they struggled between the vehicles. She said they were trying to pull down her pants when another car passed and her two assailants fled in their vehicle, heading north on U.S. 411.
Guider said the woman left her workplace in Knox County around 3 a.m., traveled down Alcoa Highway and believes the white car started following her near Green Acres Flea Market. The woman continued down U.S. 129 Bypass to U.S. 411. When she reached a remote section of the highway, she said the car behind her used the blue light, the spot light and an air horn to signal her to pull over.
The two suspects were described as white males. One of them is at least 6-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs about 300 pounds. He was clean-shaven, well-groomed and appeared to have used styling gel in his short dark hair. He was wearing dark pants with the officer-style jacket.
The second suspect is described as about 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He had ``blondish'' wavy hair, was unshaven and ``rough looking.'' He was wearing jeans with a jacket similar to the one worn by his larger companion.
Anyone with information that might lead to identification of one or both suspects is asked to contact Loudon County Sheriff's Investigator Jeff Vittatoe at (865) 986-4823, the Loudon County Communications Center at (865) 986-9081, or any local law enforcement agency.
Guider said anyone concerned for their safety when being pulled over by an officer can use a cell phone to call 911 and ask that another officer come to the scene. He said someone without a cell phone can switch on the interior light in their car and their flashers, signal to the officer that they are going to another location, and drive to a well-lighted area where there are other people around.
Blount County Assistant Chief Deputy Jim Long agreed with Guider's advice.
``Some people are afraid it will make an officer mad if you don't stop immediately, but our deputies are being instructed to try to understand why a driver might be concerned about stopping in a remote area,'' Long said. ``Let the officer know you are aware he or she is there, then let the officer follow you a mile or two to a safer location.''
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