Seattle police looking for man posing as cop, with porn

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on February 26, 2013 @ 12:31 pm (Updated: 2:09 pm - 2/26/13 )

46-year-old Ryan James Purdy (aka Tracy Byers)
Seattle Police believe 46-year-old Ryan Purdy (AKA Tracy Byers) is the man approaching people in parks, posing as an officer, and taking cash and credit cards. (Image courtesy Seattle Police) | Zoom
Seattle police are still searching for a man they believe is posing as a police officer to steal from people. SPD reports the most recent incident also included a curious new component: a box of porn.

Authorities believe 46-year-old Ryan Purdy (AKA Tracy Byers) is the man approaching people in parks, posing as an officer, and taking cash and credit cards. Seattle police report the first round of these incidents took place in Volunteer Park in December.

"He would convince them that he was some sort of undercover officer, and then because they now believed he was an officer, typically they would hand over their wallet," says Seattle Police Detective Mark Jamieson.

Police believe Purdy is also responsible for two more recent robbery incidents, the latest on Feb. 10 in Woodland Park.

In the most recent incident, Purdy reportedly approached the victim and asked him to come look at some porn in the park. The victim then attempted to remove the box of porn from the area as he was concerned children would find it.

The victim told police the suspect then flashed a fake badge and said he need to pat him down as part of a drug sting. During the pat down, the suspect took the victim's wallet, rifled through it and returned it to the victim.

Police say the victim later discovered a bank card was missing from his wallet and had since been used at a grocery store.

Purdy is also believed to have knocked on the door of a Capitol Hill home claiming to be a federal agent in a separate incident.

Police are asking anyone that has seen Purdy or knows where he might be found to call the police at 911 or (206) 684-5535.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
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