Fake 'officer' sexually assaults woman

TAMPA - A man posing as narcotics officer pulled a woman over and sexually assaulted her, police said. Officers are looking for the suspect.

The incident happened Thursday night around 10 p.m. The woman said she saw a blue light, and pulled over near Bayshore and Howard.

Police say the victim claims the man used a blue laser flashlight and told her he was pulling her over because she appeared intoxicated.

Investigators say the man told the victim he was pulling her over because she appeared to be intoxicated. He then handcuffed her, put her in his car, and drove to a bank in Hyde Park where he withdrew the victim's money.

Police say the man then drove back to Bayshore and parked near Patriots Park, and sexually battered the woman.

Then he let her go, and she went home to call 911.

"He's saying he's a narcotics officer because he's in plain clothes -- which is highly unusual. Plain clothes [officers] wouldn't be doing traffic stops like that," Contento said.

Authorities put out the following description of the suspect:

Possibly a Hispanic male, 6'2 - 6'4, 190 lbs., dark complexion, last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and dark jeans. He was driving a gray-colored four-door sedan parked in the median of Bayshore Boulevard.

Anyone who recognized the suspect, or who spots a car parked in the median should call 911.