Carjackers Use Fake Police Lights to Impersonate Cops and Kidnap Tenn. Driver in 'Targeted Attack' By Escher Walcott

A driver was carjacked and kidnapped in a “targeted attack” by suspects posing as police officers in Tennessee.

At around 8:25 p.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 12, deputies responded to reports of a “carjacking and kidnapping involving a victim” by a “dark-colored sedan with a law enforcement light inside the vehicle,” on Glen Eden Drive and Tulip Rose Lane in Shelby County, Tennessee, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) announced on X that evening.

The victim was “pulled over” by the sedan “with red and blue lights flashing,” after entering his neighborhood and asked to step out of the vehicle, SCSO Chief Deputy Anthony Bucker told KFVS12.

“We believe that he was attacked and then forced back inside his vehicle, and two, out of what we believe to be three, suspects entered his vehicle and drove him back to his house,” said Buckner.

When the suspects arrived at the victim’s house, “his alarm system went off, spooking them,” and they returned to the vehicle with the victim and drove away, according to Buckner. A police chase then ensued.

“Upon arrival, deputies located the victim’s vehicle in the area, driving at a high rate of speed, and initiated a pursuit,” said the SCSO. “During the pursuit, deputies lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Rideway and 385.”

The victim “successfully escaped” from the suspects a short while later and contacted 911 from a local business, said the SCSO. “The victim and his vehicle have been found, and he is safe,” they confirmed.

The police believe that this was a targeted attack and that the suspects knew the victim, per KFVS12, adding that the victim and suspects have not been identified at this time.

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Detectives are currently attempting to identify and locate the suspects and the vehicle they used to impersonate a law enforcement car, and the investigation is ongoing.

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PEOPLE has contacted the SCSO for further comment but didn’t immediately receive a response.

The police are asking anyone with information related to this incident to contact the SCSO at 901-379-7625 or Crimestoppers at 528-CASH.