Man Steals Motorcycle in Pentagon City, Pretends to Be a Firefighter: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — A man is in jail after they say he stole a motorcycle near a fire station and then falsely claimed to be a firefighter, police say.

Police were called to the 1700 block of S. Hayes Street -- which is near Arlington County Fire Station 5 at 1750 Hayes Street -- at around 12:15 p.m. on Aug. 29 to a report of a "suspicious person moving a motorcycle," the police report states.

The suspect manage to flee the scene before police got there, but police broadcast a description and soon arrested 34-year-old Michael Delonte Black of Oxon Hill, Md. in the immediate area.

Police spokesperson Ashley Savage said that Black showed officers a volunteer firefighter badge and claimed he was a firefighter, but officers determined that to be false. Black claimed to have purchased the badge at a store, Savage said, who added that it was not clear why he claimed to be a firefighter.

The bike did not belong to firefighters at the station, she added.

Black faces charges of grand larceny of auto, possession of burglarious tools, impersonating a firefighter and destruction of property.

Black earned the last charge because the cover of the motorcycle had been cut by the suspect, Savage said.