Westside
PHONY FIREMAN: The movie “Backdraft” really must have made an impression on one Hollywood transient, who passed himself off as a firefighter and duped merchants all over Los Angeles.
Averell Smith, 30, allegedly broke into a West Hollywood firehouse in June, just days after he stopped by the station to chat with the firefighters on duty. Not long after, Smith allegedly burglarized the station and stole firefighters’ credit cards and personal identification.
Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 22 in Beverly Hills Municipal Court to determine whether he should stand trial on charges of burglary, grand theft auto, forgery and other crimes.
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