A Big Bear man was charged Wednesday with posing as a police officer, threatening three women with a handgun and sexually assaulting them.
William Hernandez, 51, was taken into custody Monday during a traffic stop in Big Bear.
“This doesn’t happen, and when it does it’s scary and it’s so egregious,” Det. James Marshall told The LA Times.
Police say that Hernandez, who has no ties to law enforcement, told the victims he was a police officer and displayed a gun. He did not show a badge or identification to them. Police said the victims believed Hernandez out of fear.
“They were not contesting it because they were scared,” Marshall said.
Authorities say that Hernandez assaulted three women in Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville. Police believe he planned the attacks and investigators claim to have found evidence at his home in Big Bear connecting him to the attacks.
Hernandez faces nine felony rape-related counts as well as several charges for dissuading a witness from reporting the assaults.
Investigators believe Hernandez might have assaulted more women and ask anyone with information to call Rancho Cucamonga Police Department at (909) 477-2800 or the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2275. Anonymous tips can be called into We-Tip at (800) 782-7463.
