A Halliday man claims he was robbed late Thursday night by a man claiming to be a police officer.

The 44-year-old man said he was outside the Kelly Inn, 1800 N. 12th St., smoking, at around 11 p.m. Thursday when he was approached by a man who said he was a police officer, Bismarck Police Sgt. Dwight Offerman said. The man asked to see the Halliday man's identification.

When the Halliday man reached for his wallet, the other man punched him and then took his wallet, Offerman said. The Halliday man said the brown wallet contained an identification card from the state of Washington, his Social Security card and $1,000 cash. He was not injured.

He reported the incident at 7:17 a.m. Friday. Offerman did not know why the man waited eight hours to report the crime.

The Halliday man described the robber as a white man with light-colored hair, who was balding.

Another witness, who saw the two men talking but did not see the alleged altercation, said the man was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

Anyone with information should call the Bismarck Police Department at 223-1212 or Bismarck Area Crime Stoppers at 224-TIPS (224-8477).

Offerman said people who have doubts whether someone approaching them is a law enforcement officer should ask the person for identification.

"If the person is actually a cop, he should have a badge, ID card, some form of identification, and they will produce it,"he said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)