HEAR OF SOMEONE ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO USE AUTHORITY THEY DID NOT HAVE. WHEN YOU SEE FLASHING LIGHTS IN YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT WHAT IF THE PERSON BEHIND YOU ISN’T A FIRST RESPONDER? >> IT’S A LITTLE SCARY. AS A WOMAN LIVING ON CAMPUS, KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE UNSAFE. KALEA: ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, 30-YEAR-OLD PATRICK BARTON IS ACCUSED OF IMPERSONATING A PUBLIC SERVANT IN PITTSBURGH’S OAKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN BARTON ALLEGEDLY DROVE UP BEHIND A CAR USING RED FLASHING LIGHTS, IT WAS A PITTSBURGH POLICE SERGEANT IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT. >> I THINK THAT’S A CRAZY COINCIDENCE. KALEA: BARTON DROVE AROUND THE SERGEANT AND WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE INTERSECTION OF DARRAGH AND TERRACE STREET. POLICE SAID BARTON TOLD THEM HE WAS THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF AVALON AND THAT’S WHY HE WAS USING HIS LIGHT, BUT ADMITTED HE WASN’T RESPONDING TO A FIRE SCENE. A POLICE SOURCE TELLS ME BARTON IS NOT AN AVALON FIREFIGHTER. >> WE DON’T KNOW WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH THE PERSON, BUT THANKS TO GOD, EVERYTHING WAS EXPOSED. KALEA: AND ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, BARTON WAS ALREADY FACING CHARGES OUT OF ROSS TOWNSHIP FOR THEFT AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. LI
Man accused of impersonating first responder
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Updated: 9:32 AM EST Feb 3, 2023
A man is accused of impersonating a first responder after pulling up behind an off-duty police officer with flashing lights in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.Watch the report from Oakland in the video above.According to court documents, the 30-year-old suspect, Patrick Barton drove behind another car with red lights flashing, but a Pittsburgh police sergeant was in the driver’s seat ahead of him.“I think that’s a crazy coincidence,” Miah Danner said.Barton allegedly drove around the sergeant and was eventually stopped by law enforcement at the Darragh Street and Terrace Street intersection.Check out these top headlines from WTAE: Peeling license plate? Here's how to get it replaced Giant Eagle: No more weekly ads in the mail Family says fiberglass released from mattress caused health problems, expensive cleanupPolice said Barton told them he was the assistant fire chief of Avalon, and that's why he was using his light, but he ultimately admitted he wasn't responding to a fire scene.A police source told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, Barton is not an Avalon firefighter.According to court documents, Barton was already facing charges out of Ross Township for theft and receiving stolen property.
PITTSBURGH — A man is accused of impersonating a first responder after pulling up behind an off-duty police officer with flashing lights in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
Watch the report from Oakland in the video above.
According to court documents, the 30-year-old suspect, Patrick Barton drove behind another car with red lights flashing, but a Pittsburgh police sergeant was in the driver’s seat ahead of him.
“I think that’s a crazy coincidence,” Miah Danner said.
Barton allegedly drove around the sergeant and was eventually stopped by law enforcement at the Darragh Street and Terrace Street intersection.
Check out these top headlines from WTAE:
Police said Barton told them he was the assistant fire chief of Avalon, and that's why he was using his light, but he ultimately admitted he wasn't responding to a fire scene.
A police source told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, Barton is not an Avalon firefighter.
According to court documents, Barton was already facing charges out of Ross Township for theft and receiving stolen property.
