An unhinged ex-girlfriend allegedly posed as an immigration officer to kidnap her former beau’s wife at work – even wearing a shirt with the words “ICE” across it and carrying a handheld radio as part of the ruse, authorities said Monday.
Latrance Battle, 52, was arrested on April 11, a day after she was accused of impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and convincing the victim she had to come with her, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said.
When Battle reached the hotel where the wife worked, the alleged perp told her she was there to “pick her up,” unzipping her jacket to show the words “ICE” on the black shirt she had on, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local outlets.
She also allegedly flashed a sheriff’s office business card and handheld radio in hopes of appearing more official.
The victim, who is “in the process of becoming a legal United States resident,” went with Battle willingly because “she was scared and did not want to get in more trouble,” according to the affidavit reported on by the Miami Herald.
During a ride in Battle’s car, the woman tried to call her lawyer and husband, but Battle snatched the phone out of her hands and claimed she had a call from the sheriff’s office.
The ploy eventually fell apart when Battle allegedly zoomed past the sheriff’s office and told the victim she “now has to suffer the consequences of her husband’s actions,” the affidavit states.
Once the pair reached an apartment complex, Battle went into one unit and was “making a lot of noise,” paving the way for the kidnapped woman to escape, authorities said.
The victim asked a neighbor if she could use his phone and then hid behind his car as Battle looked for her.
After she described the fake agent to her husband, he said she sounded like his ex-girlfriend. The spouse was previously forced to take out a restraining order against Battle, the affidavit reportedly states.
Body cam footage released by the sheriff’s office shows a deputy approach Battle’s car and repeatedly call on her to open the door.
Eventually, the deputy opened the driver’s seat door and Battle exited the car and was arrested without incident. Police said she was fleeing to Alabama at the time of the traffic stop.
She is facing charges of kidnapping in the commission of a felony, robbery by sudden snatching, impersonating a law enforcement officer in commission of a felony and felony violation of probation, the Bay sheriff’s office said.
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