Johnston County authorities are investigating a fifth reported blue-light bandit case, and the first during daylight hours.
Friday morning, a woman reported a man driving a dark colored car, possibly a Ford Crown Victoria, attempted to stop her on the Durwood Stephenson Highway (Booker Dairy Road Extension) shortly before 10 a.m.
Smithfield Police said the woman picked up her cell phone to call 911 to verify it was an actual police officer, but before she could complete the call, the police impersonator did a u-turn in his vehicle and sped away.
Police said the victim waited nearly 30 minutes to report the incident. When authorities checked the area, the suspect's vehicle was nowhere to be found.
Previously, motorists have reported being stopped by a fake cop on I-95 on April 6 and on I-40 on March 25 and April 9. On April 12, a motorist said they were stopped and robbed at gunpoint by a police impersonator on Ranch Road near the US70 Clayton Bypass.
Friday's incident marked the first blue light bandit case to be reported during the daytime and the first in Smithfield.
The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the so-called blue-light bandit incidents.
With information from Mickey Lamm/WTSB Radio
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