A Couple Arrested for Impersonating Firefighters in Los Angeles After Attempting to Enter Evacuation Zone with Fake Firetruck
Los Angeles authorities have arrested a couple, Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, for impersonating firefighters after they attempted to enter an evacuation zone near the Palisades Fire area with a fake firetruck. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrests, which were made in connection with the ongoing wildfires in the region.
According to officials, an LAPD patrol unit noticed a fire truck that did not appear to be legitimate while driving through the Palisades Fire area with fire personnel. The officers contacted deputies, who approached the truck and found that the occupants, who claimed to be from the “Roaring River Fire Department” in Oregon, were wearing turnout gear and pretending to be firefighters. However, investigators learned that the department was not legitimate, and the truck was purchased at an auction.
The couple also wore CAL-Fire t-shirts under the turnout gear and had helmets and radios. They admitted to deputies that they had entered the evacuation zone. The truck was impounded by authorities.
In addition to the impersonation charges, investigators discovered that Dustin Nehl has a criminal history in Oregon, including charges of criminal mischief and arson.
The couple’s case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on Tuesday. As of January 12, approximately 29 people have been arrested in Los Angeles in connection to criminal activity related to the ongoing wildfires. Of those, 25 were arrested near the Eaton Fire, while four others were arrested from the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
