Update: Apparent KHP stop was no hoax
Update: Sunday 3 p.m.: At a briefing on Sunday, Wichita Police Sergeant Scott Brunow said that an officer involved in the traffic stop near I-135 and Harry early Saturday morning was not a Kansas Highway Patrol imposter.
"It was found to be a Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy that was on-duty at the time and did get a call when he was on the stop," Brunow said.
It remains unclear how the miscommunication took place.
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A Wichita police officer patrolling near Interstate 135 and Harry foiled an attempted traffic stop by what appears to be a phony Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.
Wichita Police Sergeant Bart Brunscheen said the officer spotted the traffic stop taking place and pulled in to offer assistance.
"Routinely, especially in the later hours, if an officer sees another officer with a car pulled over, they will pull in and offer backup," Brunscheen said.
When the officer pulls in behind the supposed trooper's vehicle he noticed a heavier set, white male wearing a loosely fitting trooper's uniform. Soon after, the person posing as the KHP trooper ran to his vehicle, sounded a siren and took off at speeds near 100 mph. The woman who had been pulled over took off as well.
"The officer thought that the trooper might have gotten a high priority call while on a car stop, break off and go to the call," Brunscheen said.
Instead, the Wichita Police officer called the Kansas Highway Patrol and found there was not a trooper in the area, and there was not a stop called in from that location. Brunscheen said it is policy for officers to call in the locations where traffic stops are made.
The imposter is described as a heavy set white male with average height. He is driving a navy blue Ford Crown Victoria with red profile lights in the back window.
It is unclear whether the imposter is connected to two other incidents involving phony KHP troopers that have occured around south central Kansas in the last six weeks.
If you have any information, you are encouraged to call police.
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