Story Published: Mar 20, 2010 at 11:56 AM PST
Story Updated: Mar 20, 2010 at 4:23 PM PST
Tribal Police Chief Leslie Hendrick said that on Friday March 12, a woman was driving on US 12 near the Thunderbird Trading Post when she was pulled over by an unmarked car with flashing yellow lights.
"He asked for her driver's license, registration, proof of insurance and asked her to step out of the vehicle," said Hendrick. "She said after a couple of minutes of this guy interrogating her, an older brown Ford pickup with racks came by, went down turned around and pulled in behind the first guy's vehicle. A non-tribal guy got out of that truck and approached the first guy and spoke with him for several minutes and then came up to her and told her this guy had no jurisdiction over her and she was free to leave. He first introduced himself as an off-duty officer."
The man who said he was an off-duty officer has not been identified. Hendrick said there was a Nez Perce County deputy in the area who did report seeing the car described by the victim, but wasn't involved in the incident.
Hendrick said the suspect is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, in his 40's with a medium build, short brown hair and blue-green eyes. He's reported to have been wearing a brown uniform-style shirt with a yellow patch on the arm and driving a white Chevy Blazer with blue lettering on the side .
Hendrick said she doesn't believe the suspect is wanted man Paul Evans Winklebleck, a registered sex offender accused of posing as a police officer, kidnapping and assault in Portland. Winklebleck's cell phone was found along Highway 12 between Clarkston and Pomeroy last week.
Hendrick said Tribal Police cars used for highway traffic stops are always clearly marked and officers are in uniform. She said if you have any doubt about the legitimacy of the person pulling you over, drive until you find a safe location.
"This particular victim, she had an opportunity to have driven another quarter-of-a-mile down the road to the Thunderbird smoke shop and pulled over into their parking lot," said Hendrick. "You want to go to a populated area if you can. Go to a police station, go somewhere and I know out here in the rural area it can be tough, because you may have to drive 10 or 15 miles before you can get somewhere."
If you have any information regarding the car or suspect you are asked to contact your local law enforcement agency.
