Police: Fake cop busted near school

St. Mary's Elementary School was locked down this week when a man allegedly posing as a police officer tried to get into the building after following an employee through downtown Annapolis.

The woman told police she was driving near Main and Conduit streets at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when a man approached her car. The man said he was an undercover police officer and tried to open her doors, but they were all locked, police said.

She continued driving, but the man followed her. She said she saw him try to get into the school but the doors were locked, so he tried to go around to the student entrance of the school while students were entering.

The woman alerted school officials and called police.

School officials put the school on lockdown and the man wasn't able to get into the building, police said.

Responding officers found a man matching the suspect's description on Green Street near Main Street.

Kevin Ludlam, 29, of Melrob Court, was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer and disturbing school activities, police said.

He told police that he "was just trying to stop the lady from running a red light" and that "the lady was good-looking and I was going to ask her on a date," according to police reports.

Calls to the school were not returned by deadline.

Officer Hal Dalton, a city Police Department spokesman, said when people impersonate police officers it makes it difficult for legitimate officers to do their work.

"If people doubt who are the real police, then we have people that may not immediately want to cooperate with the real police," he said.

People who are unsure if a police officer is legitimate should call 911 to talk to a dispatcher to confirm the traffic stop is real.

If someone is trying to pull you over and you're not sure if it's a real police officer, you may drive slowly to a more public place, Officer Dalton said.

Additionally, people may always ask to see the alleged officer's badge. In some cases an impersonator will have a fake badge, but in this case it doesn't appear that the man had one at all.

"If they don't show you a badge, or something, then you know it's not legit," he said.

Mr. Ludlam is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in lieu of $750,000 bond, officials said.