An Oregon couple wearing fake firefighter gear and driving a fire truck they purchased at an auction was arrested and charged after authorities stopped them from sneaking into a Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were charged with impersonating firefighters during the Los Angeles County wildfires, county District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release Friday. It’s not clear if either has obtained an attorney.
The couple was detained on Jan. 18 after a police patrol unit driving through the Palisades Fire area with fire personnel came upon a “fire truck that did not appear to be legitimate,” the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Deputies stopped the fire truck as it attempted to enter an evacuation zone. The Nehls both had radios with them and were wearing firefighter gear including Cal Fire T-shirts and a helmet, the sheriff’s department said.
The couple allegedly said they were from the Roaring River Fire Department in Oregon, which is not a legitimate agency. Authorities learned that the truck they were in had been purchased at an auction. The truck was later impounded.
According to the sheriff’s department, the couple said they had been in the evacuation zone on Jan. 17, a day before their arrest.
“Impersonating first responders endangers the safety of our community and the well-being of those who choose to engage in such reckless behavior, especially during a state of emergency,” Hochman said in a statement. “These types of actions can have dire consequences and mislead the public into trusting an unqualified person with responsibilities they are not equipped to handle.”
Dustin Nehl’s mother, Marlene Nehl, told Los Angeles Magazine that the couple lost their baby in December and “just wanted to help.”
Hochman said officials “appreciate the desire to help,” but it should “comply with the law to avoid interfering with law enforcement and first responders, who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe during these emergencies.”
Jennifer Nehl was released on her own recognizance because she has no criminal history, the district attorney’s office said. Dustin Nehl was denied release and his bail was set at $30,000. The sheriff’s office said he has a criminal history in Oregon for criminal mischief and arson.
Both are due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 11. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 180 days in county jail.
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