The fifth Fort Lauderdale firefighter to be arrested for an alleged forgery scheme, retired firefighter Michael Reimer, appeared in court before Broward Circuit Judge John Hurley on Friday. Firefighter Freddie Batista briefly commented after he was released from jail Thursday.
Arrested Fort Lauderdale Firefighter Says He Was Targeted
The Fort Lauderdale firefighters arrested for what police said was a forgery scheme appeared in bond court Thursday. After his release from jail, firefighter Freddie Batista said he feels like he was targeted. Ellen St. Laurent, a prosecutor in the Broward State Attorney’s Office, spoke about what she said was a conspiracy among the firefighters.
Fort Lauderdale Firefighters Arrested in Forgery Scheme: Police
Four City of Fort Lauderdale firefighters appeared in bond court Wednesday on charges ranging from grand theft and forgery to official misconduct, according to police. Broward Circuit Judge John Hurley addressed one of them, Steve Loleski, in court. A Fort Lauderdale fireman who did not want to be identified spoke about corruption allegations within the department
Michael Reimer, 46, faces charges of grand theft, uttering a forged document, falsifying an official document and criminal attempt to solicit or conspire, jail records showed. It was unknown whether he has an attorney.
A warrant had been issued for Reimer earlier this week after Fort Lauderdale Police announced the arrest of four other firefighters on similar charges.
Reimer was released after posting $30,000 bond, according to jail records. Also released Friday was a second firefighter arrested this week, 35-year-old Steve Loleski.
He and firefighters Freddie Batista, 36, Gregory Jones, 28, and Joseph Perri, 27, were arrested following an investigation that began when a routine audit by the Florida Department of Health uncovered a fraudulent document, police said.
Police said the ongoing investigation was being conducted by the FBI, the Broward County Public Corruption Task Force and the Broward County Office of Inspector General.
Batista, a 14-year veteran of the department who is charged with five counts each of forgery and official misconduct, was released Thursday after an appearance in bond court. He told reporters he felt like he was targeted.
“Proud to be a Fort Lauderdale firefighter,” Batista said.
Six-year department veteran Jones and 12-year veteran Loleski are facing forgery, grand theft, and official misconduct charges, while Perri, also a six-year veteran, is charged with forgery and official misconduct.
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