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A couple was arrested for impersonating firefighters in a fake fire truck after they tried to enter an evacuation zone near the Palisades fire.
Why It Matters
This arrest is the latest of at least 29 people who have been taken into custody for alleged crimes during the chaos of the deadly wildfires, hampering emergency services amid a disaster in which at least 27 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced.
What To Know
Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were arrested for impersonating a firefighter, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said on X.
Two Individuals from Oregon Arrested for Impersonating Firefighters within Palisades Fire
On Saturday, January 18, 2025, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators were contacted regarding an arrest of two suspects for impersonation of firefighters. An LAPD… pic.twitter.com/K9jGcfVW4Q
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 19, 2025
They were caught by an LAPD patrol unit while it was driving through the Palisades fire area, which noticed that the fire truck did not seem to be legitimate and reported it to deputies. Officials later discovered that the fire truck had been bought at an auction.
Both were wearing turnout gear, deputies said, and claimed to be from the “Roaring River Fire Department” in Oregon—not a real department.
The truck was impounded and the suspects, who were also wearing CAL-Fire T-shirts with helmets and radios, were arrested.
Dustin Nehl was found to have a criminal history in Oregon, which included charges of criminal mischief and arson.
It comes as the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has arrested a total of 39 people in areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, Sheriff Robert Luna said, adding that the majority took place near the Eaton fire, according to CBS News.
Arrests in evacuation areas grew last week, after National Guard soldiers were sent into the region to help deal with looting and theft, which has taken place as people take advantage of the disorder in California at the moment.
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order to “support local law enforcement and protect property as evacuation orders are lifted in firestorm-devastated communities.”
What People Are Saying
Speaking about the latest number of arrests in general, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said: “To anyone who believes they can use this disaster as a cover for criminal activity, let this be your warning: you will be caught, and you will be held accountable. The citizens of this county deserve safety and justice, especially in the wake of such unprecedented devastation, and I will not rest until we achieve both.”
What Happens Next
The case will be presented to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for consideration on Tuesday.
AP