The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says a woman who said a motorcycle officer took her car keys, after pulling her over, and left her stranded on the side of the freeway does not have a driver’s license.

And, they say, the license plates on the car Valencia Lee was driving don’t belong to that car.

The incident occurred on the Eastex Freeway Monday.

Lee and Latesta Onyenike were Northbound at Crosstimbers on Highway 59 when a motorcycle officer, who was supposedly escorting a funeral procession, waved them over.

Lee says he told her, “‘You on the cell phone and I'm directing traffic,’ that's all he said,”   Lee, added the officer ordered her to keep her car where it was. The women said the man, who was wearing a black jacket with the word “Sheriff” on the back, then asked for the car keys.

Lee said she handed the keys over because she was afraid if she didn’t, she would wind up in jail.

But after getting her keys, the escort officer just took off, leaving Lee and Onyenike stranded on the right shoulder of the freeway.

Three hours later, a Safe-Clear Wrecker took the women and their car to a safer location off the freeway. 

Then Lee called the Sheriff's Office, which dispatched a deputy and who had her towed to her apartment.  

So why was Lee pulled over?

11 News: I have to ask you this, where you drinking?

Lee: “No.” 

11 News: Were you weaving? 

Lee: “No.” 

11 News: Were you speeding?

Lee: “No. ma'am.”

The Harris County Sheriff's Office is trying to determine what happened and if a legitimate peace officer was involved. They are not sure if he is truly a deputy with the sheriff’s office or some other agency.

“If he is, we would like to know very much what agency he works for,” said Harris County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. John Martin.

No matter what agency the escort officer works for, Martin said the reported traffic stop, whatever the reason, is unacceptable.

“That is not the way law enforcement officers operate,” said Martin. “They do not leave people stranded on the side of the road.”