Florida woman arrested for impersonating ICE agent to kidnap ex-boyfriend’s wife
A Florida woman allegedly posed as an ICE agent to kidnap her ex-boyfriend’s wife in Panama City Beach. The victim escaped and contacted authorities.
A woman from Florida is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer to kidnap her ex-boyfriend’s wife.
Latrance Battle was arrested and charged with kidnapping, robbery, and falsely impersonating an officer while committing a felony, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced in an April 21 statement.
How the fake ICE agent tricked the victim into getting into her car
According to authorities, the incident happened on April 10, at a Days Inn hotel in Panama City Beach, where the victim worked. She states that Battle came to her all dressed in black wearing a face mask, a "Sheriff’s Office” badge card and a T-shirt with the letters "ICE" on it.
Scared that additional "ICE agents" may arrive, the victim further complied with Battle's demands and went along with her, sitting in the back seat of Battle's car. Latrance also confiscated the victim's phone when she tried to call her husband and lawyer, and kept lying to the victim using a radio to pretend she was "communicating" with other agents.
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Victim escapes and contacts law enforcement after kidnapping attempt
As Battle drove past the sheriff's office and began criticizing the victim's husband, the woman grew suspicious, and when they reached a biulding where Battle claimed other ICE agents were waiting, the victim seized her chance to escape.
She managed to run and ask a bystander for help and contact law enforcement. Authorities managed to discover the connection between the 2 of them, as the victim's husband said the description of the fake ICE agent sounded like his ex-girlfriend. Deputies later confirmed that Battle resided in the same apartment building where she had attempted to take the victim.