Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies are asking residents to stay alert after a woman reported being followed by a vehicle equipped with flashing lights designed to mimic law enforcement near Robertsdale in the early morning hours.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 2 a.m. when a white, early-2000s model Chevrolet Suburban attempted to stop a woman driving on Wilcox Road. The vehicle had two sets of dashboard lights that flashed between red, white and blue, closely resembling the setup used by an unmarked patrol unit.
The driver told authorities something about the situation felt wrong, so instead of pulling over, she called 911 while continuing to drive. Deputies responded to the area near Wilcox Road and Baldwin County Road 64 and spotted the Suburban heading toward the Beach Express, but lost sight of it while turning around to make a stop. A search of the immediate area did not turn up the vehicle.
Capt. Stephen Arthur of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said deputies are treating the case as a possible impersonation of law enforcement, a serious offense that can put drivers in real danger if they mistake a stranger’s vehicle for an actual patrol car. He urged anyone who suspects they are being pulled over by someone posing as an officer to call 911 immediately and continue driving toward a well-lit, populated area before stopping.
“Actual law enforcement officers will have a badge and appropriate credentials,” Arthur said, adding that drivers who are uncertain can ask whoever is stopping them to call a supervisor to the scene before rolling down a window or getting out of the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office has not identified a suspect and is asking anyone with information about the Suburban or similar impersonation attempts in the area to come forward. Deputies say cases like this tend to spike concern among residents in rural stretches of Baldwin County, where cell service can be inconsistent and help may be farther away than in more populated parts of the county.
Investigators are continuing to canvass the area near Wilcox Road and the Beach Express for additional witnesses or surveillance footage that might help identify the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say safety-conscious driving habits, including keeping doors locked and being ready to call 911 before stopping for an unfamiliar vehicle, remain the best defense against this kind of scheme.