Oak Cliff Woman Thwarts Fake Cop

A woman scared off a man impersonating a police officer at her Oak Cliff home Monday morning. Police said she asked all the right questions when he couldn’t give her straight answers.

Michelle Martinez, a mother of four, said she was not expecting any visitors. Her oldest children were at school and she was home alone with her youngest son when the man in a uniform came to her house.

Martinez said she was immediately suspicious when she noticed he had parked in her driveway.

She remembered what she learned a decade ago in the Dallas Police Explorers program about spotting impersonators. Dallas Police protocol is to park on the street.

“I opened my window and he wants to see the title to my car. He says it was reported stolen. I’m arguing with him that it’s not,” Martinez said.

She followed her instincts.

“When I asked for ID he wouldn’t show it to me. I couldn’t see his face. He wouldn’t pick up his face to look at me,” she said.

Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse said Martinez did the right thing. Dallas police officers are required to carry a city-issued photo ID, a badge and a peace officer card.

“This lady did the right thing by requesting to see that and it saved her from becoming a victim,” Janse said.

Martinez said she was scared. When she refused to cooperate with the man he tried to pull open her locked door.

“Something could have happened to me. He had a gun. He could have broken in and raped me. What about my kids?” she said.

But Martinez threatened to call the police and the man eventually ran back to his car and drove away.

Now she hopes others will learn from her experience.