On September 30, 2024, at approximately 9:05 p.m., Selkirk RCMP responded to a report of a female driver being stopped on Highway 9 in Petersfield, Manitoba, by a man claiming to be an off-duty RCMP officer. The suspect, driving a pickup truck with emergency lights, accused the driver of speeding but left the scene when asked for identification. Despite patrols, the vehicle was not located.
The next evening, on October 1, 2024, around 8:00 p.m., a similar incident occurred on Highway 9 near Clandeboye. The same male suspect stopped another female driver, accusing her of speeding and using bright lights. Again, he fled when asked for identification.
Following these reports, investigators identified a suspect’s address on Highway 9 in the RM of St. Andrews and attended the residence at 1:10 p.m. on October 1, 2024. After speaking with the suspect, a search warrant was obtained. On October 3, 2024, Selkirk RCMP, the RCMP Emergency Response Team, and the RCMP East District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team executed the warrant. A 32-year-old male was arrested for personating a peace officer. Seized items included vehicle lighting equipment, pepper spray, portable radios, and firearms. He was released on an undertaking with a court date.
Inspector Chris Lambert, Selkirk RCMP Detachment Commander, emphasized the seriousness of the incident: “While this is a rare occurrence, we take this type of incident very seriously. Thanks to the victims reporting the incidents, we had the information we needed and were able to identify the suspect quickly and arrest him shortly thereafter.”
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