Man accused of impersonating FHP trooper in Golden Gate Estates

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Man accused of impersonating law enforcement officer in Golden Gate Estates. Sketch via the Collier County Sheriff’s Office

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man accused of impersonating a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Golden Gate Estates.

A 16-year-old girl, who will remain unidentified, said she was stopped by a man around 6:30 p.m. Sunday while she was walking near north of Immokalee Road and Oil Well Road, deputies said.

“I went up to check the mail, like I do every day, and I noticed a car went past me pretty slowly and then he ended up turning around and coming down my road,” the girl said.

The man told the teenager he need to search her and threatened to arrest her if she did not cooperate, deputies said. The man drove off toward Immokalee after he frisked her.

“I pulled out my phone to call my mom and he immediately got out of his car and snatched my phone from me,” the girl said. “He just started patting me down in a way that an officer shouldn’t even pat down a minor in the first place.”

The man was described as a bald man, in his mid 50s, about six feet tall with a large build and blue eyes, deputies said. He was last seen wearing green pants with multiple pockets, a black shirt and black boots.

The man was last seen driving a black Dodge Charger with no markings, deputies said.

Anyone with information is asked to call CCSO at 239-252-9300.

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