Con man poses as police officer

A man in a blue state police-style vehicle pulled over a driver on South Main Street in Brewer on Tuesday, and police said he pretended to be a police officer.

As a result, the Brewer Police Department is warning residents and drivers to be alert.

After stopping the woman around 9:45 a.m., the man apparently asked for her license and registration, which she turned over, then went to his car. When he returned a short time later, he asked for her checking account number, saying she could avoid court if she handed it over.

This alerted the woman that he might not be a police officer. She questioned him, then made a phone call, which apparently scared him off.

He was described as a stocky male in his late 40s and 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9, police said Wednesday.

“No law enforcement officer would ever ask for bank information from a person,” said Brewer police Sgt. Arden Jones, the lead officer in the case.

He added: “If [people] have a question if it’s a law enforcement officer, they should ask for identification” or “they should drive immediately to the nearest law enforcement agency.”

A staff member at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brewer noticed a woman acting suspiciously Monday night and stopped her trying to leave the store without paying for $1,337 worth of merchandise.

Jeanette Socobasin, 31, of Princeton was caught around 7:30 p.m. Monday with a computer system, digital camera and handheld police scanner, said Brewer police Sgt. David Lord on Tuesday.

She was arrested and charged with felony theft because of the high value of the goods, possession of OxyContin, a Schedule W drug, and for possessing drug paraphernalia.

Socobasin also was wanted on a warrant that stemmed from failure to pay fines for a Washington County offense. She appeared in 3rd District Court in Bangor on Tuesday. Jail officials said she was released on bail Tuesday evening.

– COMPILED BY NOK-NOI HAUGER