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 Authorities, Deputies Were Conducting a Traffic Stop
The incident occurred when Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies were conducting a traffic stop in the area of North Federal Highway and Northwest 2nd Avenue. When they approached Benitez’ vehicle, he allegedly told them that he was a firefighter and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Reasons for Falsifying Identity Revealed
- Benitez claimed that he was on his way to fight a fire at a nearby restaurant when deputies asked him to pull over.
- He also stated that he had been working as a firefighter for several years and had received numerous commendations for his bravery.
Consequences of Falsifying Identity
Benitez was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, obstruction of an officer, and providing false information to law enforcement. He was taken into custody at the Palm Beach County Jail and is currently being held on $5,000 bond.
Deputy’s Response to Benitez’ Claims
“We take incidents like this very seriously,” said a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “Falsifying one’s identity can have serious consequences, including arrest and prosecution.”
Fire Department Responds to Incident
The Boca Raton Fire Department confirmed that Benitez was not actually working as a firefighter at the time of the incident.
Benitez’ Future Plans
Benitez is scheduled to appear in court on May 10th. If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Official city info: City of Boca Raton.
Source: Original Report