Authorities were searching for a man who impersonated a sheriff's deputy and assaulted a woman he pulled over in Duarte.
The suspect pulled the victim over around 10:50 p.m in the 1400 block of Buena Vista Street. The man then verbally threatened and assaulted the victim, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The woman suffered minor injuries, deputies said.
Deputies said the man was wearing a polo shirt similar to what deputies used to wear and could be driving a Ford Crown Victoria. Deputies warned the suspect could pull over and assault another driver.
'"That's really scary because I would have done the same thing," Debbie Fukawa said, a fellow driver.
"If I saw the lights behind me I'd stop, assuming it was a real police officer."
Many residents across the San Gabriel Valley are on alert after news broke of the impersonator admitting that it's not standard to question the identity of an officer.
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"That's not your first thought," Philip Sakanashi said. Adding, that most times drivers are thinking "It's OK," or "What did I do wrong or what's going on?"
Deputies said drivers should call 911 or ask for a supervisor if they are uncertain about the person who pulls them over, and don't get out of the car.
