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March 17, 2003
FORT WALTON BEACH -- A man pretended to be a law enforcement officer and pressured a woman for sex after he pulled her over, authorities said.
Okaloosa County sheriff's deputies have charged Bennett Keith Cline with attempted sexual assault, battery, falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer and kidnapping.
Cline was identified Friday on a photo lineup by a woman who reported that a man stopped her in her car and sexually harassed her on March 10 after he claimed to be a police officer. The woman's identity was not released.
The woman said Cline pulled her over in what she thought was an unmarked police car. He then gave her field sobriety tests.
She said Cline told her she was under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. He then asked her to get in his ivory-colored Lexus, then drove to a parking lot where she said he offered to drop her DUI charges in exchange for sexual favors.
The woman refused, then said Cline drove her back to her car and released her. Police caught up with Cline based on the description the victim provided of his vehicle. Cline was arrested and is being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail.
Cline's arraignment is set for April 22.