Felon arrested for posing as firefighter

A felon from San Bernardino, who was posing as a firefighter assigned to the Lake Fire, was arrested over the weekend after the sheriff’s department found him in possession of a stolen car, a loaded stolen gun and various uniforms from different fire agencies.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, 44-year-old David Battle was taken into custody shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday. Deputies patrolling the perimeter of the Lake Fire saw him drive a white Crown Victoria into areas that were closed by road blocks.

Battle pulled up to a checkpoint wearing an authorized fire department uniform and presented himself as a firefighter, telling deputies he was trying to locate a fire crew before driving away.

Deputies said 15 minutes later the Crown Victoria was found at the Incident Command Post in the parking lot of Big Bear High School.

According to the sheriff’s release, Battle didn’t have a fire department ID and deputies found out the car he was driving was reported stolen two weeks earlier from San Bernardino.

Inside the car deputies found several articles of fire equipment, including uniforms from various fire agencies and a fire radio that was stolen from the Lake Fire incident. Deputies said a stolen handgun was also found inside the car.

Battle was booked into the Big Bear Jail. The District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against him for impersonating a member of the fire department, grand theft auto, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of receiving stolen property.

Battle remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center on $50,000 bail, with his arraignment hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Deputies said Battle was on felony probation for a previous charge of grand theft auto when he was arrested.