Man Falsely Posing As Will Co. Sheriff's Deputy: Will Co. Sheriff

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Will County Sheriff's Office announced via Facebook on Wednesday evening that a man in the area is posing as a sheriff's deputy and making illegal traffic stops. This man is reportedly not affiliated with the Will County Sheriff or any other law enforcement body in Will County. He was reported making two illegal stops in Plainfield and one in southern Will County. The sheriff's office said he did not show a badge at any of the three incidents.

The man posing as a deputy was described by the sheriff's office as a Black man wearing blue jeans with a silver-and-black '32' on the waistband, and a black shirt with the word 'SWAT' on it. His vehicle was described as a 'beat-up,' older model of a green Chevy Malibu with black rims and a stick-on strobe light near the windshield. No weapons were reported by any witnesses.

At all three incidents, witnesses reportedly said the man claimed he was patrolling the area, enforcing Governor Pritzker's 'stay-at-home' order. During one stop, the sheriff's office claimed he threatened the person he stopped with a $500 citation for violating the order. At all three stops, he drove away after speaking with the individuals he pulled over.

All county residents are advised to ask to see an officer's badge if they are pulled over, and to be wary of a vehicle matching the witnesses' description. The sheriff's office is also asking county residents to report sightings of the vehicle matching this description to their office at (815) 727-8575.

Patch contacted the Will County Sheriff's Office for further comment on this matter, but did not immediately receive a response.