Man Claims To Be Firefighter To Avoid Arrest, Fails

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 Authorities, Deputies Were Called To The Scene

Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene of a reported DUI incident at approximately 11:45pm. Upon arrival, they attempted to detain the driver, who allegedly became belligerent and refused to cooperate.

The Man’s False Identity Claim

During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a firefighter from the Boca Raton Fire Department. He reportedly stated that he was on his way to respond to an emergency call when deputies approached him.

Deputies Were Not Convinced By The Suspect’s Claims

However, deputies were not convinced by the suspect’s story and became suspicious of his identity. They conducted a search of his vehicle and found several items that suggested he was not who he claimed to be.

The Arrest And Charges

Benitez was subsequently arrested and charged with interfering with a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and providing false information to law enforcement. He was taken into custody at approximately 12:30am on April 12.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Releases Statement

• The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office released a statement confirming the incident and stating that deputies were “not fooled” by the suspect’s false identity claim.
• According to the statement, the arrest was made in accordance with standard protocol and procedures for dealing with individuals who attempt to deceive law enforcement.

Boca Raton Fire Department Reacts To The Incident

The Boca Raton Fire Department released a statement saying that they were unaware of any emergency call that required the suspect’s services. They also stated that they take incidents like this seriously and will be investigating further to determine if there was any wrongdoing by the suspect.

Official city info: City of Boca Raton.

Source: Original Report