SEATTLE — Seattle police detectives have been searching for 46-year-old Ryan James Purdy, also known as Tracy Byers, since December, after Purdy approached several people in Volunteer Park in December, flashed a fake badge at his victims, and slyly took their cash and credit cards during a ruse to check their identification.
Since Seattle police released Purdy's picture last month, detectives believe Purdy posed as an officer on two other occasions.
Police said shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, a man was walking through Woodland Park near North 50th Street and Woodland Park Avenue North, when another man, believed to Purdy, approached him and asked him to come look at a box of pornographic magazines lying in the grass inside the park.
The victim, who said he was concerned children in the park would find the box of magazines, took the box and walked to his car.
Police said Purdy followed the man and got inside his car.
Purdy then flashed a fake badge, said he was doing a drug sting and needed to pat the victim down.
During the pat down, Purdy took the victim’s wallet, rifled through it and returned it to the man.
Purdy then took back the box of porn and got out of the victim’s car.
The victim drove off.
About an hour later, the victim realized his bank card was missing from his wallet and that it had since been used at a grocery store. He called police.
In another incident, police believe Purdy knocked on the door of a Capitol Hill home and told a woman inside that he was a federal agent.
The woman slammed the door in his face and reported the incident to police.
Anyone who sees Purdy or knows where detectives can find him is asked to call 911 or Seattle police at 206-684-5535.
KIRO
