Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Sandra Yi and Jon Dunn Reporting Police are investigating a man so desperate to be a police officer, he tried to take the law into his own hands. He even acted like one while on dates with women. Sandra Yi spoke with one date, who did not want to be identified.
Jeff Ipson told her he was an undercover cop for West Valley City Police. He had a badge, even a taser gun. But a little detective work exposed the act.
Woman: "He had a badge, he showed me his badge. He had it hooked on his belt buckle."
When Jeff Ipson told this woman what he did for a living, she had no reason to doubt him. In fact, she was impressed.
Woman: "I was thinking, 'Wow, someone who's got their career going.'"
But real police say Ipson's career was criminal.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, West Valley City Police Dept.: "He just has a great desire to be a police officer. That's not the proper channel to do it though."
But his ruse was realistic. This woman met Ipson online and he took her out for ice cream.
Woman: "And the car that he picked me up in, he said it was a city's car. It had lights on it. It had a computer in it."
She says he even questioned drivers, including a man sitting in his car, parked on the street.
Woman: "And he pulled up behind them and turned on his lights and took his badge out and showed them his badge. And was holding his taser gun and asked for their license and registration."
She says Ipson then pretended to call dispatch and identified himself as Tango 41. After their date, he sent her a text message.
Woman: "'So when I got home last night, well, this morning, there was a party and a girl got her butt kicked and thrown into a wall.' He did say he tased somebody, but I didn't think he was serious."
She started asking questions after another woman contacted her and said Ipson was a liar. Her dad, who's a police detective in Logan, found out Ipson was a fake. Now this woman has a message for people who like to make friends online.
Woman: "Don't meet them unless you know them."
Impersonating a cop is a misdemeanor, but real police say Ipson is in bigger trouble, for allegedly stealing $8,000 from an ATM in Cedar City.
