According to Haywood County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lindsay Regner, detectives conducted interviews and reviewed hours of video surveillance footage in accordance with the reported time frame and location of the incident.

After a situational awareness alert was released on Dec. 22, including the vehicle description, the office received calls from people reporting seeing a vehicle matching the description in areas outside of Haywood County.

“We greatly appreciate the proactive approach people in our communities took with this particular incident. Anyone who calls in to report tips to our office is a great help,” Regner said. “We understand safety alert messages like this create a lot of worry. We, understandably, received several phone calls from people who feared for their safety after we released this message. We will always choose the side of safety first and our citizens need to know if we receive information like this.”

Sheriff Greg Christopher said the deputies who drive unmarked vehicles at the office are in the investigations division or criminal suppression unit, but says there are several things someone can do if they are concerned about the legitimacy of law enforcement behind them.

“The first thing to point out about this incident is the reported color of the lights. It is important to remember that legitimate law enforcement lights will either have blue or blue and red,” Christopher said. “If you’re concerned about law enforcement pulling you over, you can turn on your flashers and interior dome light. This communicates to the law enforcement officer behind you that you are going to drive in a safe manner to a well-lit, public place before pulling over.”

Christopher adds you can call the Haywood County communications center at 828.452.6600 to let them know you are being pulled over and would like to check the status of law enforcement in the area as well.

On Dec. 22, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Dellwood Road and County Road in reference to a suspicious incident Sunday. The victim stated she was traveling down Dellwood Road when she saw a silver Dodge Charger with dark tinted windows approaching in the oncoming right lane of traffic. 

The victim said based on her rear view mirror observation, she believed it to be law enforcement, although she observed white strobe lights inside the vehicle located approximately where the sun visors would be. The victim stated she pulled into the vacant parking lot of the Dish Barn, and watched closely as the man walked toward her vehicle to gather information.

The victim stated the man was wearing a black button up collared shirt, black “mechanics” cargo pants, black Nike tennis shoes and a “silver badge that looks just like yours,” referencing the deputy taking the report. She said the man was approximately 6’ 4” and 250 pounds with a muscular build. She stated the man did not have anything on his belt other than a holster and a gun. 

The woman stated when the man got to her window, he pulled his gun on her and told her to “get out of the car.” The victim said her vehicle was still in drive and she pushed the gas pedal when she realized he was not law enforcement. The woman stated the man took off running back to his car and chased after her. She eventually drove out of his sight. 

If you see a vehicle matching this description, call 911. If you ever have concerns about a vehicle that is pulling you over, call 911.