Barrie woman talks about her strange encounter with a man posing as a cop
A Barrie woman who encountered a man posing as a cop at an accident scene is grateful she followed her instincts and refused to get into his car when he offered.
"I got in a car crash just outside of Barrie Burger," Cady Matheson stated, "a nice woman took me over to [the] Barrie Burger parking lot, and she helped me and sat with me."
Matheson said moments after her vehicle was hit by a truck last week, a man who police said claimed to be a provincial investigator approached her.
"There was a kind of a grey car sitting in the parking lot, and he came over to us and asked me if I wanted to sit in his car because it was hot out and he had air conditioning. I said no," she recalled.
"He asked me again, and then I said no again, and he drove away about five minutes later."
Police say this is one of two suspicious incidents with men falsely identifying as authorities in recent weeks.
RELATED
Man poses as provincial investigator at Barrie crash scene
Barrie police investigating after man poses as OPP officer at traffic stop
Police say a Good Samaritan told officers the man who approached Matheson had quickly shown a badge that didn't have a number or rank on it.
A week prior, on June 18, police say another man wearing green tactical-like pants and tall black boots driving an older model police car with OPP lettering pulled an individual over in a nearby church parking lot.
Police confirmed this incident didn't involve anyone from the OPP, nor did provincial police have any calls for service stemming from the person who was pulled over.
In her case, Matheson said she's thankful there was a woman to help her and that she had the sense to question the situation.
"[It's] scary to know that there's a man like that out on the streets of Barrie. Hopefully, they find him soon and that no one is able to get lured into his car," she said.
Matheson said if anyone else is approached, she hopes they know not to get into a stranger's vehicle, whether it's a man or woman.
"It's always good to just stay on your own, especially if you're vulnerable, especially in Barrie as well, because it's around this area, it's high in trafficking. So just always stay out of someone's car if they ask you to come in."
Police continue to investigate both incidents and say they have not received any additional reports regarding either impersonation incident.
So far, there have been no arrests, and no suspects have been named.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.