Police: Someone is impersonating an animal control officer

Someone is pretending to be an animal control officer in Wichita, and authorities want the public’s help in nabbing him.

Authorities were contacted by a man who lives in the 13000 block of East Stampede on Monday, who told them he had been contacted by a man who identified himself as an animal control officer, Wichita police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow said.

The imposter told the man his German shepherd was too thin and that he would return soon to arrest him. The suspect was driving a blue truck with the words Wichita Animal Control on it, Woodrow said.

Both Sedgwick County and Wichita animal control vehicles are plain white vans with the city seal on the door, she said. Actual animal control employees have uniforms that clearly identify them as Wichita police employees on the front and have Animal Control in large letters on the back of the shirt.

Anyone who notices a man driving around in the blue pickup with Wichita Animal Control stenciled on it, is being asked to call 911, Woodrow said. Police do not know if other pet owners have been contacted by the suspect.

“It’s definitely concerning for the whole community,” Woodrow said of the incident.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Police: Someone is impersonating an animal control officer."