Jump Creek hikers still shocked by fake cop: 'At the moment, we thought it was real'
MARSING, Idaho (KBOI) — For four young people, what was supposed to be a fun outing at Jump Creek Falls last week turned into a terrifying experience they'll never forget when they say a man pretending to be a police officer used zip ties, tied them up and held them against their will for several hours.
Ysaias Sanchez and Carlos (who asked his last name not be used) along with another young man and woman say they were confronted by a man pretending to be a police officer at the popular recreation area Jump Creek after the area closed.
"He said I'm here just investigating," said Ysaias. "Obviously I didn't try to resist because he could have a weapon in his pocket."
They say the man, wearing some kind of badge, cammo pants, a sweater and half a ski mask, proceeded to tie the four up.
At the outset, they believed he was a police officer, something they soon began to doubt.
"At the moment, we thought it was real," said Carlos. "But there were so many red flags, to be honest. Like the ski mask, the fake badge, no weapon and all cops have weapons."
They say when the man separated the young woman from the others and took her back to his car, they feared the worst.
Ysaias was able to get to his cell but there was no service.
Then the young woman came running back.
"She came running back, crying saying he was a fake cop, that he was a fake cop telling her stuff," Ysaias said.
"She broke away," said Carlos. "And came running back saying he was fake cop, we all began to panic."
They say the mysterious man took off, but the four did not know that right away because they were too busy trying to hide.
Soon they knew, got cell service and called police.
They left Jump Creek unharmed but with lessons for a lifetime.
"You can't trust anybody," said Ysias.
"I'm not going back there ever," said Carlos. "At least not after closing. It's too scary."
The Owyhee County Sheriff's Office says deputies are still looking for the suspect.
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