By EMS1 Staff
HILTON HEAD, S.C. — A firefighter-paramedic was suspended after being charged with impersonating a police officer.
The State reported that Dominic Socie, with Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue, was arrested after he allegedly walked around a Hilton Head restaurant asking women to show him their identifications.
Police said they responded to the restaurant after receiving a call from Socie, who said he was a bartender and needed help removing underage customers.
The business was closing when a deputy arrived, who said he did not see any underage patrons.
The four security officials on the scene denied placing the call, and did not know of a bartender named Dominic Socie.
The deputy then spotted Socie and recognized him as a firefighter. Socie told the officer that he made the call because he had an issue with his bar tab, which he had corrected. The report said Socie then left the restaurant.
A security guard said Socie had been checking IDs of women on the patio and asked that they give him a trespass notice.
Another security guard said several women reported that Socie told them he was a police officer. When confronted by security, Socie allegedly revealed a badge and said he was undercover.
Socie later contacted police and told them he did not remember telling anyone he was a police officer or asking for identification.
“Socie explained he does not remember the entire evening and only remembered parts of what happened,” the report said. “Socie did not remember anything about his call to a Sheriff’s Office dispatch. Socie advised the only reason he would call about underage customers is if someone asked him to.”
Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue Chief Brad Tadlock said the incident is being investigated.