by An Oregon couple wearing fake fire gear and driving a fire truck they bought at auction were 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 wildfires in Los Angeles County, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release Friday. It is not clear whether either has been assigned an attorney.
The couple was apprehended Jan. 18 after a police patrol unit driving through the Palisades Fire area with fire personnel encountered a “fire truck that did not appear to be legitimate,” the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Officers stopped the fire truck as it attempted to enter an evacuation area. The Nehls both carried radios and wore firefighting gear, including Cal Fire T-shirts and helmets, the sheriff said.
The couple reportedly 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 auction. The truck was later seized.
According to the sheriff’s department, the couple said they had been in the evacuation zone on January 17, the 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 serious consequences and mislead the public into trusting an unqualified person with responsibilities they are not capable of.”
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 that it must “follow 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 record, the Public Prosecution Service 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 on February 11 for a hearing. If convicted, they face up to 180 days in prison.
