Woman hid behind car to escape man accused of impersonating police officer in Bloomfield

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police say a woman went to a bar here in Bloomfield and just started talking to this guy. The woman told police she felt comfortable leaving with him because he told her he was a police officer.  She says he even showed her some kind of identification card.

“Glad she’s safe,” said Sydney Pujadas.

Pittsburgh police say this woman did everything right.

“I’m really happy that she was able to get away and had the resources to get information useful to catching him,” said Pujadas.

31-year-old Andrew Ranallo of Bloomfield has been charged with indecent assault, criminal attempt indecent assault, false imprisonment and impersonating a public servant.

This all happened on March 14, 2024. According to the police report, Ranallo took her to a secluded area off of Liberty Avenue in this industrial area. He allegedly forced himself on this woman and bit her. She told police he kept asking for her home address as they started driving again, and when they were at a red light, she managed to get out of the car. As he was coming back to try to pick her back up, she says she hid behind a car and snapped a picture of his license plate.

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“Very brave of her to get out of there and get a picture out but scary that can happen around here,” said Russell Hunt.

“Good for this story that she got out of the situation and was safe because usually we hear the worst-case scenarios only,” said Pittsburgh Combat Club Owner David Holzer.

David Holzer runs a self-defense school called Pittsburgh Combat Club.

“Our primary goal is to help protect you and defend your life,” said Holzer.  “Whether it’s someone attacking you full out or sexually assaulting you or if someone is just creeping you out.  When the hair on the back of your neck stands up, you have to pay attention to that. You have to pay attention to that. But our goal is not to necessarily fight. When it’s there in front of you, and it’s the last thing you can do. That’s the only option you have.  When she was in the car and kind of fought back a little bit and got out that’s great. That’s when you have to do it. But our primary motive is once you get the person off you, get out of the situation. Your only goal is to get home safe and sound to your friends and family.”

Holzer says don’t ignore those human responses and be wary.

“Listen to the voice in your head,” said Holzer.  “If I’m at a bar and someone comes up to me. One, why are you coming up to me? Two, what are you showing me? Official documentation or not. Everything can be fake nowadays.”

Holzer also suggested downloading an app called BeenVerified.

“Before you would go with somebody, do some due diligence,” said Holzer. “Go online. You can do it from your phone. Go to the bathroom check the person out. Does everything line up?”

Holzer says never get into someone’s car.

“Always use your own vehicle and follow them wherever you’re going,” said Holzer. “A couple of our students have trauma from being attacked whether they were in a bad relationship or somebody in their family or someone in their personal vicinity has attacked them. We always say the attacker typically knows you. Tangentially. Either through social media or they ride the same bus or they take the same elevator as you. You’ve had some type of interaction with them whether you’re aware of it or not.”

Pittsburgh police also shared a statement on how to identify when someone is an officer of their bureau.

“Pittsburgh Police carry ID with the Bureau’s insignia on it as well as the issue and expiry date. They also carry separate certification cards from MPOETC - The Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission which show which law enforcement agency they are linked to in PA.  Many off-duty police officers also keep their badges in their wallets so people can also ask to see those if they are unsure. To be clear though, not everyone does that while off duty, but it might just be an extra precautionary step to take if someone is skeptical,” said Pittsburgh Police Public Information Officer, Cara Cruz.

Channel 11 found out that the suspect works for UPMC.  In a brief statement, UPMC said as soon as they found out about the complaint Ranallo was suspended indefinitely.

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