​  Big Bear Deputies   

  Make Arrest at LAKE FIRE

 

David Anthony Battle impersonated a firefighter at LAKE FIRE 

 

UPDATE 06/30/15 @ 1500 HRS.:

 

As of this afternoon, the District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against David Anthony Battle, consisting of impersonating a member of the fire department; grand theft automobile; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and two counts of receiving of stolen property.  

The San Bernardino County Probation Department has issued a probation hold on Battle, and he will remain in custody without the possibility of bail pending court procedures.

 

 

 

San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies assigned to perimeter patrol at the Lake Fire in the Jenks area and security of the evacuated areas, Saturday June 27th at 5:00 P.M., observed a white Crown Victoria driving into the affected areas that were closed by road blocks. The vehicle was driven by a male subject who was wearing an authorized fire department uniform and represented himself as a firefighter. When the subject stopped at a checkpoint, he claimed he was trying to locate a fire crew and then left the area.

Approximately 15 minutes later, the vehicle was located at the Incident Command Post, set up Thursday June 18th, in the parking lot at Big Bear High School.  The Sheriff Deputies made contact with the subject in the vehicle, and identified him as 44-year-old David Battle. At the time of contact, Battle could not provide proper fire department identification.

Upon further inspection, the Deputies noticed that the tires on the vehicle were bald. A records check revealed that the California exempt license plates on the vehicle had been stolen. Deputies ran the vehicle VIN, and determined that the vehicle had been stolen from the City of San Bernardino, approximately two weeks earlier.

Inside the vehicle, Deputies located several articles of fire equipment, including uniforms from various fire agencies and a fire radio stolen from the Lake Fire incident. A stolen handgun was also found in the vehicle. Battle was found to be on felony probation for a previous charge of grand theft auto.

David Battle was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Big Bear Jail on felony charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a stolen loaded firearm. Battle remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail, with an arraignment hearing set for this afternoon in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Anyone recognizing David Battle or his vehicle and has had contact with him where he represented himself as an official member of a fire department or law enforcement agency is requested to contact:

Detective Jim Wijnhamer at (909) 866-0100

Detective Lance Stuart at (909) 890-4840

or CAl Fire Captain Jack Markle at (909) 881-6922.

Information can also be reported anonymously by calling

WE-TIP at (800) 78-CRIME or online at www.wetip.com.