An Oregon couple is in major trouble after police caught impersonating firefighters to enter a Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
On Friday, county district attorney Nathan Hochman said a police patrol unit and fire personnel found a suspicious-looking firetruck while surveying the Palisades Fire area on January 18. Authorities stopped the truck from entering an evacuation zone and saw Dustin and Jennifer Nehl with various fire equipment, including helmets.
The couple allegedly claimed they were a part of the Roaring River Fire Department in their home state, which doesn't exist, and authorities discovered the firetruck was bought at an auction. The sheriff's department added that the couple said they were in the evacuation zone on Jan. 17. The couple was later arrested and charged with impersonating firefighters.
“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 dire consequences and mislead the public into trusting an unqualified person with responsibilities they are not equipped to handle.”
Authorities released Jennifer Nehl on her own recognizance as she had no prior criminal history, but Dustin, who had a record of criminal mischief and arson, remains in custody and has his bail set at $30,000. The couple has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Feb. 11 and is facing a maximum sentence of 180 days in county jail.
