MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
An agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation did in fact pull over a motorist earlier this week in Murfreesboro and the agency says he followed all policies and procedures when doing so.
Authorities had been searching for the driver who they believed was impersonating a TBI agent since the Thompson Lane traffic stop involving a 35-year-old woman Monday night.
The woman, Lindsay Malcolm, told Nashville's News 2 she was pulled over after merging into the agent's lane. She said her lane was ending so she sped up in order to merge.
Malcolm said the man identified himself as a TBI agent before becoming angry and starting to scream at her.
Malcolm said she became suspicious when he could not produce identification so she drove away and reported the incident to the TBI.
When contacted Tuesday, TBI spokesperson Kristin Helm told Nashville's News 2 agents typically do not make traffic stops.
Wednesday, Helm said the agent who pulled over the woman came forward after seeing reports of the incident on the news.
"It kind of makes me mad because it violated my feeling of safety," said Malcolm.
Helm said according to him, the woman cut him off. He told his supervisor he suspected the driver could be impaired because she was driving recklessly and that was the reason for the stop.
"Police officers are supposed to instill safety not make you afraid of them," Malcolm told Nashville's News 2.
The TBI says the agent followed all policies and procedures. He lives in the Murfreesboro area and was driving a TBI-issued vehicle through was dressed in plain clothes, Helm said.
According to TBI, he did not have red lights in his vehicle as the woman initially claimed.
Helm said the agent did fill out paperwork about the stop during the appropriate time frame.
Malcolm has filed a formal complaint.
Helm said the agency will conduct an internal investigation into the agent's behavior during the stop.
Buford Tune, a retired police officer and owner of The Academy of Personal Protection and Security, says plain clothes officers in unmarked cars are discouraged from making traffic stops.
"It's encouraged, from the departments that I know, that I've worked with, that plain vehicles and officers in plain clothes do not make traffic stops unless they have a marked vehicle coming to the scene for some reason," he explained.
During a traffic stop, Tune encourages motorists to always ask to see an officer's identification card.
He says that's more important than a badge because badges can be purchased anywhere.
He urges people to always trust their gut.
"If you're in an unsafe area, don't stop. Keep going and let the cards fall where they may," Tune said.
Tune says motorists can call 911 anytime during a traffic stop if there's a question about whether it's legit or not.
TBI spokesperson Kristin Helm says TBI agents typically don't make traffic stops.
Lindsay Malcolm
Buford Tune, a retired police officer and owner of The Academy of Personal Protection and Security, says plain clothes officers in unmarked cars are discouraged from making traffic stops.
