Rochester Area Motorists: Keep An Eye Out For Sgt. Sledgehammer

Stewartville, MN (KROC AM News) - If you happen to get pulled over by a cop in the Rochester area, you may want to take a good look at the officer.

A Stewartville man was stopped for speeding on Main St. Wednesday night. The 22-year-old man says the officer who came to his car was in uniform but did not ask for a drivers license or insurance information.

The Stewartville man says the officer was wearing a ballcap with a patch that read "Rochester Police Dept" but it did not look like the one used by the local department. He also knew the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office patrols Stewartville. The driver became even more suspicious when he saw the officer’s nametag - it read “Sledgehammer.”

The officer returned to his vehicle and drove off while the Stewartville man went home. The incident was reported Thursday.

The man described the vehicle the impersonator was driving as a black 2016 Ford Explorer with a pushbar-style bumper and emergency lights but no license plate. It also had “Rochester” painted on the driver’s side door. It’s possible it was a former police vehicle. Rochester police say it was not one of their vehicles.

The man was described as white, 6-2 with an athletic build, 20-30 years-old with a short black beard. He also had a rose tattoo on his neck.

Local law enforcement officials are asking anyone who may have information about the man to give them a call.

News update:  Two gun-related bills pass the Minnesota House.