Marietta cops investigate alleged phony firefighters

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Marietta police said Monday they have identified two men who posed as firefighters when they approached businesses in a local shopping center, saying they were collecting money for a nonexistent charity.

After the incident was reported on TV news Friday afternoon, one of the men reported himself to police, and investigators now also have the name of his companion, said Officer David Baldwin, spokesman for the Marietta Police Department.

Investigators “haven’t officially arrested them yet,” Baldwin told the AJC. “Right now, they’re still doing the investigation, trying to figure out the scope of where they went and what other jurisdictions were affected, if any.”

The alleged solicitations occurred shortly before noon Friday in the East Gate Shopping Center at Lower Roswell Road and South Marietta Parkway. Two heavy-set men, 55 to 60 years old, went from store to store.

They were dressed in plain clothes, and one man had a gold badge, like a firefighter’s badge, around his neck, Baldwin said. They allegedly said they were collecting money to go toward firefighters and their families.

“They were saying they were soliciting money for this charity, a charity that doesn’t exist,” Baldwin said.

The men left after business owners became suspicious and demanded to see some documentation, Baldwin said. As the merchants called authorities, the men were seeing leaving in a burgundy Honda Accord.

After the incident was reported, authorities put out a news release stating Marietta Fire Department personnel “will never solicit door to door for charitable donations nor do they charge for fire inspections.

“Additionally, all members of the Marietta Fire Department, when conducting official department business, will operate fire department vehicles and be dressed in full uniform with proper credentials displayed.,” the statement continued.