A man accused of impersonating a firefighter at the Lake Fire near Barton Flats was arrested at the Fire Incident Command Post on multiple criminal charges. David Battle, 44, of San Bernardino, was booked into the Big Bear Jail on felony charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a stolen loaded firearm. Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Lake Fire saw a white Crown Victoria driving into areas closed by road blocks. Battle, who was wearing a fire department uniform, represented himself as a firefighter and claimed he was trying to locate a fire crew. Minutes later the car was seen at the Lake Fire Incident Command Post at Big Bear High School. Deputies questioned Battle, who couldn’t provide proper identification. A check showed the California exempt license plates on the car had been reported stolen. Deputies also learned the car was reported stolen two weeks earlier. Inside the car, deputies found a stolen handgun and fire equipment, including uniforms from various fire agencies and a fire radio stolen from the Lake Fire incident. Battle is scheduled to be arraigned today, He’s being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
This is not the first run-in with the law for Battle. In October 2013 an unmarked San Bernardino police car parked at city hall was stolen. After Detectives found the stolen police car parked at an apartment complex Battle was arrested and pleaded guilty to three counts of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. In October 1998, he was sentenced to seven years in state prison for impersonating a peace officer, petty theft, stealing a police car, burglary and receiving stolen property, according to court records.
