PROVO — Provo police arrested a man who allegedly impersonated a police officer and forced a woman to consent to a strip search.
The woman’s nightmare began as she went to meet a friend at a Provo motel at 215 S. University Ave. on July 16. It ended nearly 24 hours later after the woman was held against her will.
Jose Gabriel Baray, 37, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of kidnapping, forcible sexual assault and impersonating an officer.
The woman told investigators that Baray said the motel was being raided for drugs and he was a police officer.
"Here she is seeing a uniform and a badge and a gun. Normally when you encounter that, you are going to obey them as a police officer,” Provo Police Capt. Jerry Harper said.
Baray is accused of forcing the Provo woman to drive him to a convenience store near 500 N. University Ave. They later returned to the motel, where inside the room the woman said Baray demanded she consent to a strip search.
“He made the accusations she had drugs on her,” Harper said. “She told him she didn't. He said he needed to search her and told her to strip.”
Police are not alleging that any physical contact took place, but say the woman was forced to spend the night in the motel room.
The next day, Baray told the woman she needed to become an informant and buy drugs at a convenience store in Lehi, Harper said. The woman was rescued after Lehi officers responded on a report of suspicious activity.
"She was scared to death during this encounter, and she is very traumatized by the situation," the captain said. "I’m glad she’s OK, just very glad it turned out the way it did. It could have been a lot worse."
Police are now investigating how the man was able to obtain the police items. He had a uniform, handcuffs, an airsoft gun, as well as a bulletproof vest, Harper said.
Baray is being held on $10,000 bail.
Police say if you ever are concerned that an officer isn't a real one, ask for a backup officer to respond.