Photo credit: itdontmakesense.blogspot.com
RURAL MASON CITY – A former Mason City man traveling near town late Tuesday evening claimed to have an experience with a “fake police stop” and was able to alert authorities, who then conducted an investigation.
According to Joshua Dean Oetken, who now lives outside of Mason City, he was eastbound on Highway B20 near Rock Falls Tuesday at around 11:00 PM when he says he was pulled over by what appeared to be a police officer.
However, all was not as it should have been, according to Mr. Oetken.
“The police office(r) was a fake and he was driving a 2008 gold GMC Arcadia,” Mr. Oetken reported on his public Facebook page. Fake police lights and all.”
Oetken says that he challenged the man who approached his vehicle once he determined the man was not a real police officer. He described a situation where he was clearly shaken by the incident and instinct took over.
“I went into fight or flight mode. I called the police after having a nice talk with the man. I informed him I knew he was a fake and he tried running. He got away but I think he may have pissed his pants.
“Police officer said me being aggressive scared him off.”
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals confirmed that there was indeed an incident reported, similar to what Mr. Oetken described.
On Tuesday evening at about 11:09 PM, a “caller reported a suspicious vehicle near Raven and 205th Street,” Sheriff Pals said Wednesday.
“The suspicious vehicle (was) stopped in Mason City a few minutes after the incident. Both male drivers (were) talked to about the road rage incident.”
Sheriff Pals said that “according to deputies, the driver of the suspicious vehicle had an “app” on his phone that flashed red and blue.”
Sheriff Pals said that no charges were filed at this time.
Joshua Oetken had some words of advice for people driving on lonely roads who are approached by what seems to be law enforcement.
“Do not pull over in the middle of nowhere,” Mr. Oetken warned. “This guy was trying to cause harm. White guy, mid 20s. Iowa plates.
“Everyone should be able to carry a gun. People have the right to defend themselves against people like this. I could have been killed. I had no weapons, just the will to live. He never had a chance to show me his intentions, I just hope he thinks twice about doing it again. The scary part is I almost pulled over for him. I thought it could have been a state trooper unmarked. The vehicle only had lights at the top left corner of the front window.”
