YAZOO CITY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A Yazoo City man is being detained by the Humphreys County Sheriff's Department after two people reported being pulled over by someone who did not appear to be a law enforcement officer.
A Mercury Grand Marquis with blue lights, some of them painted blue, and glued on antennas is now in the hands of investigators.
They believe it could be the same vehicle involved in a police impersonation investigation that began about 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
Officers say a man saw blue lights flashing behind him and pulled over on Highway 149, near Silver City.
"Once he pulled over, he saw the suspect get out of the car and come to the passenger side of the vehicle, like he had his weapon out. So, immediately he saw that and took off," says Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff.
The impersonator gave chase but the motorist fought back.
"As they was going down the road where he speeded up to probably 120 miles per hour, he (the victim) stated, and fired a round out of the car."
A short time later, a female also reported being pulled over in the same area by a similar car.
Thursday morning, Yazoo County deputies were able to stop the car, driven James Lucas, 45. They identified it by an upside down state of Mississippi tag on the front.
It matched the same description given by Humphreys County investigators. Humphreys County wouldn't say if Lucas is the person being questioned in the investigation, but deputies think the correct suspect is in custody.
"We are doing the investigation with M.B.I. to continue this, to see if he is our man, to make sure that we have the right guy," explains Humphreys County Investigator Sam Dobbins.
According Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff, a search of Lucas' girlfriend's Yazoo City home revealed fake handguns, police badges, and handcuffs.
Lucus was at one time a suspect in two separate investigations of impersonating a police officer.
If you're pulled over by an unmarked vehicle and don't feel safe, officers have some advice.
"Continue to a safe place and dial 911 or *MHP and continue to a safe place where they are comfortable in identifying them as being a law enforcement officer," says Sheriff.
Investigators believe the Grand Marquis is a retired patrol car and was bought at an auction.
It's unclear if a second person was involved in the Humphreys County investigation.
Deputies are also trying to determine if this police impersonation investigation is tied to two deadly police impersonation shootings in north Mississippi.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
