Oregon couple arrested for impersonating firefighters in LA with fire truck bought at auction
The two occupants of a fire truck purchased at an auction were wearing firefighter gear, helmets and radios, and were wearing Cal Fire T-shirts underneath.
An image of the fire truck purchased at auction. (Image credit: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.)
A man and a woman from Oregon were arrested in California for impersonating firefighters in the area of the Palisades Fire, while driving a fire truck purchased at auction, authorities said Sunday.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Los Angeles Police Department officers contacted the sheriff's office on Saturday to report a fire truck in the Palisades Fire area that "did not appear to be legitimate."
Sheriff's deputies responded to the area and made contact with the two occupants of the truck as they attempted to enter an evacuation zone. The truck was marked as being from the "Roaring River Fire Department," and the two occupants claimed to be from the Roaring River Fire Department in Oregon, but investigators learned that no such fire department exists and the truck was purchased at auction.
The two occupants, identified as Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were wearing firefighter gear, helmets and radios, and were wearing Cal Fire T-shirts underneath. They allegedly admitted to deputies that they had been in the evacuation zone on Friday.
Both suspects were arrested for impersonating a firefighter and entering an evacuation zone. The truck was impounded.
The sheriff's office said Dustin Nehl has a criminal history in Oregon for criminal mischief and arson, though neither suspect has a criminal history in California.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about the case to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.
Reporting by TMX
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