GREAT FALLS — Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross is advising people to positively identify law enforcement officers before opening their home to anyone who claims to be such an officer.
The Sheriff said in a press release that early Friday, a resident of Box Elder reported that a man knocked on the door of his residence, said that he was a police officer, and told the resident to open the door.
The resident looked through the door peephole but didn't see anyone; he turned the porch light on and saw through the window a man running down the porch stairs away from the residence. He also heard the suspect man yelling.
The resident called the Sheriff's Office, and when a deputy arrived, he searched the area but didn't find the suspect man. The resident said the man was about six feet tall, average build, dark-haired, and wearing a black sweatshirt, dark pants, and a dark baseball cap.
Sheriff Ross said in the press release that before opening the door of your home to someone who claims to be a law enforcement officer, ask for identification - a badge or departmental identification.
You can also call the law enforcement agency the person claims to represent for verification, or you can call 911 to confirm whether the person is indeed a legitimate law enforcement officer.
Anyone with information about the Friday incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at 406-265-4444, the Havre Police Department at 406-265-4361, or the Hill County Sheriff's Office at 406-265-2512.
