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Police warn of phony patrol car in Turlock
phony police car
The Turlock Police Department is investigating an incident in which a driver in a Crown Victoria pulled someone over on Monte Vista Avenue (Photo contributed).

The Turlock Police Department is advising residents to be wary of individuals driving a Crown Victoria that is attempting to pull people over.

Around 9 a.m. Friday the police department was told of an incident in which a driver in a Crown Victoria pulled someone over on Monte Vista Avenue.

The vehicle was equipped with a spotlight and used it to pull over one vehicle. Once the vehicle was pulled to the side of the road, the driver of the Crown Victoria drove away.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Department arrested two men on Thursday in Atwater who had been impersonating deputies. One suspect, Jeremiah Foster was found in his Atwater home wearing a sheriff’s deputy uniform with a replica firearm that had been altered to appear real.

Foster was also in possession of two replica firearms, a replica tin badge, a crossbow and law enforcement tactical belt. He is on probation and electronic monitor out of San Joaquin County. SRT Deputies arrested Foster for impersonating a peace officer, altering/possession of a replica firearm, and possession of a dirk/dagger.

The second suspect, Denero Waters, who resides with Foster, was arrested for a probation violation. Both Foster and Waters were booked into the Merced County Jail.

Deputies are currently investigating how Foster and Waters came into possession of the uniforms and any connection they have to the recent impersonation cases reported to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. Some of these incidents included a driver in a dark Crown Victoria attempting to pull over female drivers.

This is an active investigation and the sheriff’s department asks if anyone has any information regarding these incidents to please contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office at 385-7445.

The Turlock Police Department advises drivers to be suspicious if the vehicle does not look like a traditional marked police vehicle and if the driver doesn’t believe it is a real police officer to call 911 and not pull over until at a safe, well lit, public place.