Police impersonator halts school bus in Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif.

The driver of a Redlands Unified School District bus was exiting Interstate 10 at University Street and approaching Citrus Avenue at about 2:40 p.m. when she was pulled over by a silver sedan. The vehicle displayed blue and red flashing lights through the windshield.

The suspect approached the bus driver, identified himself as a police officer and showed the driver a gold, star-shaped badge.

The suspect jumped in his vehicle and drove away when the bus driver said she was calling California Highway Patrol.

The suspect was described as a white male between the ages of 30 to 35 years old, standing around 6 feet tall with a thin build and short, reddish brown hair. He was last seen wearing a light blue, button up long sleeve shirt and tan pants.

The driver told police the suspect had an identification card clipped to his shirt with the word "investigator" written in red.

His vehicle was described as a silver, newer model 4-door sedan, possibly a Chevrolet or Ford, with flashing red and blue lights under the rearview mirror.

Authorities said they have no idea what the suspect's intentions were.

"Can't even begin to surmise at this point what the purpose of this was. There were no children on the bus. The bus was occupied only by the driver," said Carl Baker with the Redlands Police Department.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact Redlands police at (909) 798-7681.

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