CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies in Clay County are investigating a report of police impersonators Thursday, after two men used red and blue lights to pull over a high school student and then tried to get into her car.
Amanda Roeske, 18, said it happened to her early Tuesday morning on Pine Avenue in Fleming Island.
Detectives are investigating but haven't figured out who was trying to do it, or why.
Roeske said it was a scary situation that could have ended much worse, but luckily she kept calm, knew what to do, and got away.
"I didn't see them behind me at all, and then out of nowhere, red and blue flashing lights behind me," Roeske said.
Roeske said she pulled over and two men came walking up, one on each side of her car.
He walked up really fast and then just started banging on my window, I don't know if he's trying to bust it or if he was just trying to get me to open it," Roeske said.
The other man then tried to pull open her passenger side door handle.
According to Roeske the men pulled up in an older looking minivan that she described as a Dodge Caravan. She said the men looked like they were in their 30s or 40s and were black men, one of whom had medium-length dreads.
Feeling that something wasn't right, Amanda kept her windows up, her car locked and sped off. She called 911 to alert the real police who believe the men were impersonators up to no good.
Roeske said her quick thinking was thanks to her father who has been telling her what do to in a situation like this since she first got her license.
News4Jax crime and safety expert Gil Smith said Amanda did things the right way and others should take notice.
Smith said that it's OK for people in a situation like this to call the police to make sure that the person pulling you over is a legitimate police officer.
"Especially in a case like this where they are not in uniform and they are pulling on the car doors trying to get inside," Smith said.
Smith said that if it's at night and its dark, it's OK to pull into a well-lit area with people around.
He said you may want to put your flashers on or point where you're going so the officer doesn't think you're trying to get away. He said they'll understand.