PRAIRIEVILLE — A Prairieville woman’s instincts kicked in, proving to be the right decision when she was followed by an individual impersonating a police officer on Sunday night.
According to the father of the 20-year-old woman, who is speaking to Unfiltered with Kiran with the understanding we conceal her identity, she was returning home after visiting friends in Baker. While driving on I-10, a truck closely trailed her, repeatedly flashing its lights.
“She didn’t know what was happening,” the woman’s father recounted. “It was right on her tail. She thought there might be something wrong with her car, so she continued driving. Eventually, the person turned on red and blue lights.”
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The woman’s father stated that his daughter believed the vehicle resembled a law enforcement SUV, so she pulled over.
In a call to her mother, the woman expressed uncertainty about whether the person following her was a legitimate police officer.
“The guy … opened the door and got out,” the woman’s father explained. “She noticed that he was just an ordinary-looking white man wearing a t-shirt with a large tiger on it. At this point, my wife was still on the phone and advised her to just leave. Since she hadn’t exited the car, she drove away.”
According to the woman’s father, the man continued to follow his daughter on I-10 and even followed her off the exit. He nearly followed her into the subdivision before eventually turning around and driving away.
An Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputy arrived at the scene and spoke with the family. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident.
“Our detectives are actively investigating a report regarding an unidentified vehicle with flashing lights that attempted to stop another vehicle traveling near Prairieville,” Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre said. “This is the only report to this incident at this time. I urge all our residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to our office immediately.”
The father mentioned that his daughter felt a bit hesitant to drive following the incident.
“The plan was for me to take her car for a few days and see if I can get him to accidentally follow me,” the father revealed. “We were concerned that he might return and enter the subdivision.”
He expressed his hope that sharing this situation would raise awareness among others.
“I spoke to my wife, and I felt it was crucial to share this story,” he said. “Our intention is not necessarily to find the individual because the chances of that are slim. There are many young women out there, and it’s a scary situation. It’s important to be cautious about where you park and remain highly aware of your surroundings.”
Law enforcement sources tell UWK that if this happens to you you should:
- Put on your emergency blinkers & call 911 to verify it is a law enforcement officer pulling you over
- If you do need to pull over for safety reasons, make sure you do it in a well-lit area (public area) or at a police station if one is nearby
- Never drive to your home
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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