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, Benitez was stopped by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies for suspicion of driving under the influence. When asked to take a field sobriety test, Benitez allegedly claimed to be a firefighter and told the deputies that he was on his way to respond to an emergency call.
Deputies Not Fooled
The deputies were not fooled by Benitez’s claim and instead continued with the DUI investigation. However, when they attempted to handcuff him, Benitez allegedly resisted and became belligerent.
- Benitez was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, and providing false information to law enforcement.
- He is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $5,000 bond.
The incident highlights the importance of honesty when interacting with law enforcement. Deputy Chief William Godwin said in a statement: “We take incidents like this very seriously and will continue to work hard to keep our community safe.”
Fire Department Speaks Out
The Boca Raton Fire Department also released a statement regarding the incident, saying: “The fire department takes pride in serving our community, but we also expect our personnel to uphold the law. We will be investigating this matter further and taking necessary action.”
The arrest is just the latest in a string of incidents involving individuals attempting to use their supposed status as firefighters to avoid arrest or other consequences.
Previous Incidents
- In 2020, a man in Fort Lauderdale was arrested for impersonating a firefighter and attempting to flee from police.
- In 2019, a woman in Miami-Dade County was charged with filing false police reports after claiming to be a firefighter.
These incidents demonstrate the need for individuals to be honest when interacting with law enforcement. Falsely claiming to be a firefighter or attempting to use this status to avoid consequences can have serious consequences, including arrest and prosecution.
Official city info: City of Boca Raton.
Source: Original Report