A Florida woman was arrested on her way to Alabama after she allegedly impersonated an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and kidnapped her ex-boyfriend’s wife earlier this month.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office said it was called to an apartment complex on April 10 by a woman who told them she had been kidnapped. The suspect, identified in the course of the investigation as Latrance Battle, “came to the victim’s place of employement and identified herself as an ‘ICE’ agent,” the sheriff’s office said.
Bsttle was wearing a black shirt with “ICE” on the front, showed the victim a sheriff’s office business card, and carried a hand-held radio. She ordered the victim to get into her car and go with her, and the victim complied in fear because she is in the process of becoming a legal resident.
When the victim tried to call her lawyer and husband, Battle grabbed her phone away from her. As she pulled into the Bridge Plaza apartment complex, Battle reportedly told the woman they were going to sheriff’s office and went inside an apartment. The victim, by that time suspecting something was amiss, fled the vehicle and called 911.
Battle was later located in the town of Fountain as she was driving toward Alabama. She has been charged with kidnapping in commission of a felony, robbery by sudden snatching, impersonating law enforcement in commission of a felony, and violation of probation.
Police have not revealed a motive for the crimes, but the Tampa Free Press reported that the victim’s husband had once dated Battle.
The sheriff’s office announced the arrest last week. The investigation in ongoing.
