By Mike Rush
Clayton, MO (KSDK) - Clayton's police chief calls it a baffling crime. A man dressed like a police officer pulled over a woman during busy morning traffic Wednesday and punched her in the face.
The guy was wearing a gray shirt, dark pants, an oval badge, and a gun belt. When he approached the woman's car, she rolled down the window, he reached in and opened the door and from there things got violent fast.
It was right off of busy South Hanley Road, smack dab in the middle of morning rush hour traffic.
"Pulled her out and punched her once and then took her around the front of the car and threw her down on the grass," said Clayton Police Chief Thomas Byrne.
Police impersonator? Angry security guard? Police don't know at this point.
The man was driving a dark blue Crown Victoria with flashing lights on the dash and a spotlight on the side.
But the woman, who's in her 40s, wouldn't be a victim for long. After the guy threw her down, startled, police say, she jumped up and hit the man with her head where it counts.
"In the groin, which stunned him and she was able to get up, get back in her car and drive off," said Byrne.
He drove off too.
Although they don't have reason to believe there's a connection, police are still checking with Shrewsbury police to see if it's related to a case last month, where a man dressed like a cop and forced a woman to kiss him.
Other than calling her a nasty name, the man didn't say anything to the woman.
The woman is shaken up, but okay. Although she saw that gun belt, she never did see a gun.
If something doesn't feel right when you're being pulled over, the chief doesn't recommend you ignore the officer and keep going, but you can drive to a public place and call 911.
KSDK