The Parker Police Department is searching for a possible police impersonator who pulled a woman over on a busy road in the middle of the day.

Investigators have ruled out traffic stops by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Colorado State Patrol and nearby agencies after a woman was pulled over at 10:30 a.m. March 19 on South Parker Road near Pine Lane. She told the Parker police that a man in a black pickup truck with flashing red and blue lights accused her of speeding and asked for her personal information.

The location and time of day of the incident have alarmed authorities.

"I can't speculate on his intentions, but it was a pretty brazen act if it wasn't an officer," said Dawn Cashman, public information officer for the Parker Police Department.

The possible impersonator is described as a "clean cut" white male in his late 30s to early 40s, standing 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall and weighing 180- 200 lbs. He has short sandy brown hair and a goatee, and was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket and a blue or gray colored t-shirt. The woman also saw a large silver toolbox in the bed of the truck and an extension ladder that stretched from the truck bed over the cab.

Detectives are hoping the public can shed more light on the suspect and want anyone who has experienced similar contact to come forward with information. The woman wasn't going to report the incident until she later told the story to a friend, who convinced her to go to police, Cashman said.

Motorists driving past the scene at that time are also being asked to contact the police at 303-841-9800. The silver toolbox and extension ladder, possibly yellow, are identifying characteristics that residents might recognize as belonging to a friend or neighbor, she said. Investigators are eager to talk to the man to determine his intent.

"We don't want any other criminal acts," Cashman said.

The penalty for impersonating an officer was raised from a misdemeanor to a felony after Fort Collins resident Lacy Miller, 20, was kidnapped and murdered in 2003 by a man posing as a police officer. Using red and blue lights is a class 1 misdemeanor.

The recent stop is a reminder of a 2010 case in Castle Rock in which a woman was driving on a busy road and was sexually assaulted. A man was later arrested and charged.

Police have a particular dislike for the latest impersonation case because it "undermines law enforcement," Cashman said. The possible impersonator, whose red and blue flashers were at the top and bottom of the windshield, did not issue a ticket and instead gave the woman a warning about speeding.

It is "scary" that the victim provided her information, she said, but there are tips to help avoid direct contact with a suspicious person. Cashman said motorists who believe they are being pulled over by a fake cop should call 9-1-1 and turn on their hazard lights. Dispatchers can determine whether it is a legitimate officer following.

Motorists should drive to a gas station or well-lit parking lot and only slightly roll the window down. The person being pulled over can request that the officer send a marked patrol car, and tell the officer that they are on the phone with police to confirm their authenticity. Impersonators will typically flee immediately if they know real officers are en route, Cashman said.