Loyd Brumfield
The Dallas Morning News
A Dallas man who has made a habit of posing as a firefighter and even a doctor is accused of doing it again after authorities say he convinced Dallas firefighters to take him on a ride-along.
Dallas police are searching for Terrance King, 27, who is suspected of impersonating a public servant after he allegedly told firefighters that he was an EMT student, according to WFAA-TV (Channel 11).
Dallas Fire-Rescue Station 49 in Red Bird received no advance notice that a student would be visiting the station, which is a common occurrence, Dallas Fire Fighters Association President Jim McDade told the station.
King accompanied the firefighters on several medical calls but did not assist them, McDade said.
Eventually, they grew suspicious and questioned the suspect, who fled on foot.
“He ran away with one of our ballistic vests assigned to an engine, but that was eventually returned,” McDade told WFAA.
This isn’t anything new for King, who pleaded guilty to stealing an ambulance and was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2016. A year earlier, he was arrested after officials said he pretended to be a doctor at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, an offense that led to the ambulance theft.
In addition, he was arrested in 2013 on theft charges after he stole a Dallas Fire-Rescue uniform and visited a Plano fire station.
“Him showing up unannounced [at the Red Bird station] was a huge red flag,” McDade told WFAA, adding that typical procedures call for the station to confirm things with school officials.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans released a statement to WFAA, saying the department had reviewed its policies in the wake of this incident.
“To ensure the security of our fire stations and that of our personnel, we have reviewed our requirements and processes, which includes a background check by our investigators, to prevent future occurrences,” the statement read. “Additionally, we have reinforced the importance of station security with our personnel. Only Fire and EMS personnel from surrounding jurisdictions, individuals in EMS training and City officials are allowed to ride-out.”
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