Brade
A Florida woman, LATRANCE BATTLE, 52, allegedly posed as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and kidnapped her ex-boyfriend’s wife from her workplace, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred on April 10 at a hotel chain where the victim was employed.
BATTLE arrived at the victim’s workplace wearing a black shirt with “ICE” printed on the front and armed with a hand-held radio. She presented a sheriff’s office business card and instructed the victim to leave with her, authorities said. The victim, who is in the process of becoming a legal U.S. resident, complied out of fear, believing BATTLE was a genuine ICE agent.
During the drive, BATTLE spoke into her radio, further convincing the victim of her legitimacy, as reported by the Miami Herald. The victim attempted to call her husband and lawyer, but BATTLE forcibly took her phone. Suspicion arose when they arrived at the Bridge Plaza apartment complex, where BATTLE claimed additional ICE agents would be present. Instead of stopping at the Sheriff’s Office, BATTLE took the victim to the complex.
Upon entering her apartment, the victim fled and hid behind a neighbor’s car. The neighbor later informed deputies that BATTLE had asked if he had seen a woman running and admitted to taking the victim’s phone, claiming she “knows what she did.” The neighbor allowed the victim into his apartment, where she contacted her husband and described the fake ICE agent. The husband recognized the description as his ex-girlfriend, BATTLE, who had previously attacked him, leading to a restraining order.
BATTLE was arrested en route to Alabama and charged with kidnapping in the commission of a felony, robbery by sudden snatching, impersonating a law enforcement officer in the commission of a felony, and felony violation of probation.
For further details, visit [Bay County Sheriff’s Office](https://www.bayso.org) or [Miami Herald](https://www.miamiherald.com).
