San Bernardino

Man Arrested in Big Bear for Allegedly Impersonating Firefighter

San Bernardino deputies arrested a man who was caught allegedly passing himself off as a firefighter while passing through an evacuated area in Big Bear affected by the Lake Fire, officials said Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as David Anthony Battle, 44, of San Bernardino, was seen driving through a closed area around 5 p.m. in a white Ford Crown Victoria with state-exempt license plates. Battle stopped at a checkpoint and was observed wearing an official fire department uniform and represented him as a firefighter, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

About 15 minutes later, deputies found Battle in the vehicle in a parking lot at Big Bear High School, which was set up as a command post for the Lake Fire. Deputies approached Battle in the vehicle, and he failed to provide the deputies with proper fire department identification.

Deputies checked the vehicle identification number of the car, and learned it belonged to the City of San Bernardino, and was reportedly stolen about two weeks before the incident.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies found fire equipment, various fire agency uniforms, and a radio stolen from the Lake Fire incident. A stolen handgun was also discovered inside the vehicle.

According to the police report, Battle was on probation for grand theft auto. Court records showed Battle was previously convicted of more than a dozen crimes dating back to 1996. He was arrested and booked into Big Bear jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, being a felon in a possession of a firearm and felony possession of a stolen firearm, according the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. He is currently being held at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 bail.

Battle is expected to be arraigned in San Bernardino Superior Court Wednesday.

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