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Newsletter #15 - August 2000 CWP Update & 'Blue Light Rapist
Good evening Folks. Two topics tonight of importance.
#1. Please be advised that there have been two incidents this week in Pinellas County involving phony cops. Both involved unmarked vehicles displaying either blue or red & blue emergency lights. Both targeted females in vehicle by themselves. The first involved a white vehicle that also displayed a searchlight. The female driver was signaled to a stop but successfully escaped the scumbag. The 2nd incident that did culminate in a rape started in Tampa and ended in Pinellas County. The white male,
identified as approximately 30, 5'10", 170 pounds with brown eyes and short, dark brown hair was driving a gray or blue vehicle. He stopped the driver and proceeded as if he believed that she were intoxicated. He convinced the driver that she was too drunk to drive and convinced her that he would take her home. Of course, the scumbag pulled into some mangroves off of 4th Street and raped her. He then drove her back to Tampa and dropped her off at a house belonging to a friend of the female victim. The Rules are:
1. If stopped by an unmarked car displaying emergency lights, be wary.
2. If the driver/occupant is in plain clothes become real wary! Most
law enforcement officers are real careful about traffic stops in unmarked
vehicles. The standard approach is to request a marked unit with a uniformed
officer.
3. If the location is isolated, be afraid and able to articulate a well
founded fear for your safety. Per Marianne Pasha of the Pinellas County
Sheriff's Office, "If people have any doubt that the person stopping them is
an officer, they should pull over only in well-lighted or crowded areas". St
Petersburg Times, October 17, 2000
4. It is recommended that if you are afraid of stopping due to
location, whether daylight or nighttime, signal the vehicle operator to
follow you. Turn on your flashers and safely, obeying all applicable traffic
regulations, proceed to a police station, fire station, convenience store,
hospital, etc where there are people. It is not recommended that you either
go home, to a relatives, your employment or any other place that you
routinely frequent. He may be a real bad guy and now he knows where to find
you! Use your cell phone and even call 911 or *FHP to see if you can verify
that it is a real cop or receive directions to the nearest "safer" place.
5. When you do stop and it is a real cop, explain your actions. If he
is upset, request a supervisor. Be careful not to commit the heinous offense
of "contempt of cop". The rules are that you need to be able to articulate a
well founded fear for your safety or the safety of others!
Some things of interest-the booze clouds judgment and these type crimes
come in bunches and generate copy cats particularly if successful! Stay
Safe!!
#2. There is good news on the reciprocity front! Texas has now been added to the list so there are 16 states. Please see Florida Department of
State-Division of Licensing for the August 2000 Newsletter. Texas is a handgun only state but now there are 16!
Please feel free to call or Email if any questions. Stay Safe!
Norm
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