Police arrest fake officer for attempted murder, shooting at vehicle in Atascadero

ATASCADERO, Calif. -- Atascadero police arrest one man who impersonated an officer and tried attempting to murder a woman in her car on Wednesday.

Police arrested Steven Ladwig, 65, from Atascadero on two felonies: attempted murder and shooting at an occupied car.

On April 11 at around 2:20 a.m., Atascadero police received a report to a shooting.

Officers arrived on scene in the area of Buena Fortuna and Avenida Maria.

Officers contacted a woman who reported she had been sitting in her car when she was approached by a male suspect on foot.

The male suspect shined a flashlight into her car and identified himself as a law enforcement officer and displayed a handgun.

The woman questioned the suspect's identity. Fearing for her safety, she immediately drove off.

While she sped away, the man fired one shot from his handgun. The shot struck the woman's car, traveled through her taillight into the passenger compartment and ultimately striking the woman's shoulder.

Because the shot traveled through the trunk of the vehicle and seat, the velocity of the bullet slowed enough to not penetrate the skin of the victim.

Atascadero Police Department Investigative Unit began conducting a follow up investigation. Detectives were able to find a possible suspect in the incident.

On Wednesday, detectives served a search warrant on the 10000 block of Los Pueblos in Atascadero.

Detectives contacted the suspect, interviewed him and recovered evidence associated with the shooting.

Detectives arrested Ladwig.

Ladwig was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Police confirmed that Ladwig is not a real police officer but was impersonating one.