A man was recently arrested for impersonating a police officer, kidnapping and forcible sexual assault after he told a woman he was law enforcement and allegedly insisted she submit to a strip search. The woman was also apparently forced by the man to participate in buying drugs at a Lehi convenience store.
Photo: The.Comedian
Kidnapping is frequently defined as detaining or restraining a person for a substantial amount of time and is a second-degree felony. A guilty verdict on a second-degree felony can send a person to prison for anywhere from one year to fifteen years. Forcible sexual assault is generally a first-degree felony, but there can be mitigating circumstances which change the charge or sentence. First-degree felonies mean at least five years in prison and can be for as long as life in prison.
Law enforcement has said that if you have any concerns about whether or not a person presenting themselves to you as law enforcement is telling the truth, you can always request a back-up police officer. That is helpful information for anyone who finds themselves in a situation where the police officer may be acting in an unusual manner.
The best bet when approached by a law enforcement officer is to let him or her do the talking and wait for your opportunity to talk to an attorney. Don’t say anything to police without the advice of a qualified Utah defense attorney. He can listen to your side of the story and deal with law enforcement on your behalf.
