By Boca Vibe
Man Claims To Be Firefighter To Avoid Arrest, Fails
A West Palm Beach man was arrested early Sunday morning after he allegedly interfered with a DUI investigation and falsely claimed to be a firefighter when deputies tried to detain him. Angel Benitez was taken into custody just after midnight on April 12. Read more at BocaVibe.com.
- According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were conducting a traffic stop in the area of Federal Highway and Military Trail when they attempted to detain Benitez for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).
- Benitez allegedly told the deputies that he was a firefighter with the Boca Raton Fire Department and refused to cooperate with their investigation.
- Deputies claim that Benitez became belligerent and physically resisted when they attempted to take him into custody, leading to his arrest.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reports that Benitez was subsequently charged with resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, and providing false information to law enforcement.
- Benitez is currently being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $5,000 bond.
- He is scheduled to appear in court on April 19 to face the charges against him.
The Boca Raton Fire Department has released a statement denying that Benitez is a member of their department and expressing disappointment in his actions.
- “We are aware of the incident involving Angel Benitez, and we want to assure the public that he is not a member of our fire department,” said a spokesperson for the Boca Raton Fire Department. “We take pride in serving our community with integrity and professionalism, and it’s disappointing to see someone try to impersonate one of our firefighters.”
Deputies say they are grateful that no one was injured during the incident and are urging anyone who has information about Benitez’s identity or whereabouts to come forward.
- “We appreciate the public’s help in identifying individuals who attempt to deceive law enforcement,” said a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our community safe.”
Official city info: City of Boca Raton.
Source: Original Report