Men Pretending to Be Police Officers Forced Their Way Into Woman’s Home and Shot Her

Houston. Screenshot/Google Maps

A Texas woman said that three men pretending to be police officers barged into her house and shot her.

The situation unfolded in Houston around 10 p.m. on May 30, the woman, who was not named, told KTRK.

She said that the men shouted “police!” When she saw one of them had a pistol, she retrieved her firearm.

The men barged into the house, leading to a shootout between them and the resident.

The men eventually fled while the woman, who was hit in the arm, was rushed to a hospital.

A nearby incident may be connected, officers said.

Just moments after the men fled the scene, a 23-year-old man driving nearby narrowly avoided hitting a man who was sprinting across the street. The driver stopped. Then, someone inside of a parked car shot at him.

The man who was sprinting across the street then hopped in the car, the man said.

Police are exploring a possible connection.

According to the Texas penal code, impersonating a public service, such as a police officer, is a third-degree felony.

The law states: “A person commits an offense if he: (1) impersonates a public servant with intent to induce another to submit to his pretended official authority or to rely on his pretended official acts; or (2) knowingly purports to exercise any function of a public servant or of a public office, including that of a judge and court, and the position or office through which he purports to exercise a function of a public servant or public office has no lawful existence under the constitution or laws of this state or of the United States.”

Police Investigating Impersonation in Alabama

An Alabama woman said this week that she was pulled over by a man who claimed to be a police officer.

Grace Stockton said that she was driving on May 30 when she saw flashing blue lights behind her. Because she knew she was not speeding, she took precautions.

“He got out and came up to my window, and I kept my door locked and just cracked it a little bit,” she told WHNT.

The man impersonating the officer was dressed all in black and wearing a gun belt and what appeared to be a fake badge.

“It had like a white sticker across the badge that said Johnson on it and I was like, that doesn’t look right at all,” Stockton told WAAY.

He also had a radio.

“He said, ‘I ran your tag and you have a warrant out for your arrest,’” she told WHNT. “And I said, ‘Well this is my mom’s car that I’m driving, and I’m pretty sure that neither one of us have a warrant.’”

Police told WAAY that after Stockton asserted there was no warrant, the suspect replied, “Okay, have a good day.”

He was described as a middle-aged white male with dark hair wearing black clothing with a white sticker that had the name “Johnson” on it.

Anyone with information was asked to call Muscle Shoals police at [phone]. Police said that anyone who is ever stopped by an unmarked vehicle can dial 911 and request verification that it is a police agency conducting the stop.