Police need help identifying a man they say impersonated an officer when he broke in to a southwest Houston apartment and shot the resident.
In the Nov. 2 shooting, the gunman was dressed in a uniform similar to the type worn by Houston police officers, said HPD Officer Michael Ybanez.
The gunman knocked on several doors in the complex in the 9400 block of Bellaire, near Corporate, identifying himself as a police officer. He told them he had a warrant and named the person he was pursuing.
When he knocked on the victim's door, Ybanez said, the resident did not answer right away. The gunman then used a crowbar to break in to the apartment. The resident confronted the man, who pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. The two struggled for the weapon, which fired. The victim was slightly wounded in the arm.
Ybanez said police impersonators are especially dangerous because they often carry guns and make people suspicious of law enforcement officers.
"People who commit these type of crimes erode the public's trust in the Houston Police Department," he said.
Ybanez said the gunman is in his mid to late 20s or early 30s. He is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He had acne scars on his forehead and cheeks.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Houston police at 713-308-3100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Copyright 2013 - Houston Chronicle
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
