Toledo police seeking phony officer

2/20/2009

Toledo police yesterday searched for a woman accused of following an 82-year-old woman home and claiming to be a police officer.

Etta Hoot arrived at her South Kennison Drive home about 12:30 p.m. A white Jeep pulled up, police said.

A woman dressed all in black approached Ms. Hoot, identified herself as a police officer, and flashed a gold badge. The woman asked Ms. Hoot to look at a photo of a person wanted for shooting a police officer, the report said.

Ms. Hoot invited the woman inside out of the rain. The impersonator then asked if Ms. Hoot owned a gun and put her on the phone with a man she claimed was a police sergeant or captain, police said. The man on the phone asked Ms. Hoot about her money. Ms. Hoot, who was already suspicious of the woman, told her she worked for the police.

The impersonator then fled, police said. The woman was described as black, in her 30s, about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighing about 130 pounds.