The Corvallis Police Department is asking for assistance in locating man accused of impersonating a police officer during an incident early Monday evening on Northwest Walnut Boulevard.

Police gave this account:

At about 6 p.m., a Corvallis resident was driving on Walnut when she was stopped by a mant she initially thought was a police officer.

The man, who was driving a dark-colored vehicle, possibly Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird, used a rotating red light placed on top of the vehicle to stop the victim.

As the victim was stopped, she was directed into a park by the suspect. The suspect approached the victim, described her vehicle as stolen, and told her to exit the vehicle. The victim was driving her own vehicle, which had not been reported stolen.

The victim became suspicious the suspect was not a police officer and when the suspect attempted to open her vehicle door, the victim was able to roll her window up and drive away. The victim notified the Corvallis Police Department and was unharmed during the incident.

The suspect is a white male, 5 foot 7 inches to 5 foot 9 inches tall, medium build, with short brown or auburn colored hair.

He is 35 to 40 years old and was wearing dark-colored, button-up, long-sleeve shirt, dark pants and dark shoes.

The suspect vehicle is described as a dark colored Chevy Camaro or Pontiac Firebird. The suspect used a red rotating light placed on the roof of the vehicle to impersonate a police vehicle. Corvallis Police would also like any information to help identify the suspect and vehicle.

If anyone has any information regarding the suspect, suspect vehicle, or this incident please call Officer Bryan Rehnberg at 766-6729 ex 8610.

The Corvallis Police Department would also like to remind residents of steps they can take to increase their safety if their vehicle is stopped. Typically, when a police officer stops a citizen, the officer is driving a marked patrol vehicle and is wearing a uniform with a badge. However, there are instances where police officers use unmarked vehicles to make traffic stops.

If you are stopped by someone reporting to be a police officer, and you are unsure the person is actually an officer, it is acceptable to ask the officer to view their Department issued identification. It is also acceptable to confirm the person is an officer by calling 911. Give the dispatcher your location, the description of your vehicle, and if you are already stopped, the officer's name. Dispatcher's can immediately confirm if a traffic stop is legitimate.

When possible, stop in well lit areas such as parking lots, so you are seen by other citizens and you have light to see the officer conducting the traffic stop.