Manassas Journal Messenger | Fake cop attempts to kidnap woman

A man dressed as a police officer unsuccessfully tried to abduct a 24-year-old woman Tuesday morning on Va. 234 near Exeter Drive and is wanted for attempted abduction, impersonating a police officer and assault and battery, said Detective Dennis Mangan, Prince William police spokesman.

At 4:44 a.m., the victim was driving west on Va. 234 near Exeter Drive just north of Prince William Forest Park when a man in a dark car with a blue flashing light pulled her over, police said. He was wearing a state trooper style hat, a badge and a dark jacket and was carrying a flashlight.

The attacker parked his car in front of the victim’s and then approached her car. He reached through the driver’s side window and grabbed her by the shirt, police said. The victim then drove away while rolling up the window, causing the attacker to lose hold of her. He got back in his car and was last seen going west on Va. 234 toward Manassas, police said. The victim was unharmed.

According to police, the attacker is a 6-foot-4-inch, 250 pound black man between the ages of 35 and 40. He was driving a low profile dark car with a large rear spoiler.

“[The victim] was going to meet with the detective assigned to the case [Monday] to try to come up with a composite [sketch],” Mangan said. “Hopefully she can give us more details about how he looked to give us a better idea of who we are searching for.”

Police ask that anyone with information call Crime Solvers at (703) 670-3700. Callers do not have to give their names or testify in court and may receive a reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in an arrest.

This is the third reported attempted abduction in the past three months. On Sept. 15, a Hispanic man tried to abduct an 8-year-old girl at the Shoppers Food Warehouse on Sudley Manor Drive, north of Manassas.

In another case, a 13-year-old girl was nearly abducted while walking home from school in the Westridge section of Lake Ridge by a white man in his early 30s.

A Dale City man successfully abducted a 21-year-old ex-girlfriend in Lake Ridge on Sept. 28, but was later arrested by police and charged abduction and burglary with intent to assault.

None of these cases have any connection to Tuesday’s attempted abduction, police said.