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, according to authorities. Read more at BocaVibe.com.

Details of the Incident

• Benitez was stopped by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies on University Boulevard in West Palm Beach around 11:45pm on April 11th. He claimed he was a firefighter with the Boca Raton Fire Department and refused to take a field sobriety test.
• Deputies attempted to detain Benitez, but he allegedly resisted arrest and tried to flee the scene.
• Benitez was subsequently arrested and charged with resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, and providing false information to law enforcement.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying that deputies were conducting a DUI investigation when they encountered Benitez. The agency stated that Benitez’s actions were “unacceptable” and that he would be held accountable for his behavior.

Consequences of the Incident

• Benitez was taken into custody at approximately 12:30am on April 12th and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.
• He is currently being held on $5,000 bond and faces multiple charges related to the incident.
• The Boca Raton Fire Department has stated that Benitez is not a certified firefighter and that his actions were “in no way representative of the department’s values or standards.”

The arrest was made possible through the efforts of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, who worked tirelessly to bring Benitez to justice. The agency urged residents to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

Official city info: City of Boca Raton.

Source: Original Report