Investigators in Columbia are getting more concerned after two additional reports of police imposters stopping drivers on dark roads.
Christopher Dodson, of Franklin, said he was riding with his cousin Sunday evening near Carters Creek Pike and Nashville Highway in Columbia when they noticed blue lights behind them.
"It's kind of scary when people are out here getting beat up," Dodson said. "When my cousin, Donald, turned on the inside light, I guess they saw it was more than one person present inside the vehicle and they sped off."
That's when Dodson and his cousin saw that the car with the blue light was not police, but rather the bright yellow Camaro that has been involved in recent cases of police impersonation.
"I think they need to be caught and locked up, because it's not right to impersonate a police officer by no means," Dodson said.
What makes matters worse, Dodson's cousin's 5-year-old son was in the back seat.
"He was a little bit freaked out himself for a 5 year old," Dodson said.
Two nights before, there was another reported attempted stop by the police impersonators in Columbia. This time, it was on Highway 43 near Highway 50, and officials said the near-victim sped up until he lost sight of the yellow Camaro.
"It's a very dangerous situation," said Columbia Police Lt. Joey Gideon.
Police say this makes four times in recent weeks that someone in a yellow Camaro has either pulled over or attempted to pull over another driver by using a blue light on the dashboard.
Last week, two victims in Maury County were robbed. One was knocked out cold after being hit in the back of the head, and the other one was robbed at gunpoint.
Police want these men off the street before things turn even more violent.
"I got an entire team of investigators committed to finding out who these people are and stopping any other occurrences," Gideon said.
Officers say law enforcement doesn't use one light on the dash anymore, and most unmarked law enforcement vehicles are equipped with multiple flashing lights.
And authorities say if you're not sure if a real police officer is trying to pull you over, turn on your emergency flashers and drive slowly to the nearest well-lit area.
Columbia police are sharing information gathered in the case with the Maury County Sheriff's Office and neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Authorities say the key in tracking down those police impersonators is finding that yellow Camaro. If you spot it, call your local police department.
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