(WSBT) There is growing concern over a cop impersonator in Elkhart County. A local woman says she was pulled over by a man claiming to be a police officer, but she soon learned he wasn't.

This is at least the fourth time this year someone has pulled people over pretending to be a police officer. This time though, the victim says she was hurt.

It's the view from the rear view mirror every driver already dreads.

But this weekend, a 23-year-old woman from Goshen soon learned she had a real reason for fear.

"The female was approached by a male subject claiming to be a police officer,” explained Capt. Sean Holmes of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

He had flashing lights, but turned out to be no officer at all. He climbed into the car with her, then hit her in the head with a flashlight.

"It does happen unfortunately,” Holmes said.

The real police say it's not the first time they've been impersonated. In September, two men were arrested in Elkhart after using a green Explorer to pull over unsuspecting drivers.

"They had the guns, the radios, the computer all that kind of stuff,” said one woman who was pulled over by the two men.

They were convincing conmen, targeting some people already distracted by their own nerves.

"You know when you get pulled over, you think you've done something; so you wouldn't think it's not a police officer,” said Maria Gomez of Goshen.

Police say it's personal.

"It's an issue of trust and we don't want anybody out there that would make people mistrust being stopped or that puts us in danger because people think that it might be someone that's not a police officer,” said Holmes. “We will find out who it is and we will put him in jail.”

Police say whether they're in a marked car or an unmarked car their lights are always red and blue and officers are always in full uniform.

If anything ever seems suspicious, police suggest putting your hazards on, driving to a well-populated area and calling 911.