Man Posing as Kennewick City Employee To Gain Access to Homes -UPDATE

Additional information has come to light about a man trying to gain access to people's homes.

Our news partner KNDU-TV reports Kennewick police are searching for a suspect who tried to gain access to at least one home Monday.

Authorities say the man was posing a City of Kennewick worker,  and approached a home in the 500 block of West 20th Ave.  He told a woman at the residence he was with the city and was supposed to test the water.

He also reportedly said he was sent to Hispanic homes because he speaks fluent Spanish.  The woman told police he was talking very fast, and was fidgety when she questioned him. Because he wasn't wearing any city employee uniform and she didn't see a City of Kennewick vehicle anywhere nearby, she called police.  The man then left.

He is described as 6 feet tall, probably 170 lbs, with light brown or blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing slacks and a dress shirt.

Kennewick city officials stress all their employees wear city uniforms and use city vehicles while working, and to report any such suspicious activity to police.

UPDATE - Authorities now say the man posing as a City of Kennewick employee now claims to be working for a company called Aqua Clean.   The man appears to be targeting Hispanic households in East Kennewick.  Police say between Tuesday and Wednesday, additional reports have come from people saying the man claimed he was testing their water on 'behalf' of the city.  Those who allowed him to actually test their water said he tried to sell them an expensive water filtration system.

The man apparently has a badge identifying himself as working for Aqua Clean.  There is actually an Aqua Clean Pool Service company located (according to internet searches) at 1019 SE Columbia Drive in Richland.     But it has nothing to do with water filtration systems.   Kennewick officials say all vendors, including door-to-door, must be licensed through the city.   If this individual shows up at your home, get as much information as you can and notify police immediately.  Authorities are now treating this as a scam.