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Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant Arrested

By Walt Hunter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A veteran Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant is facing kidnapping and sexual assault charges after, police say, he posed as a Philadelphia police officer, forcing a woman into his pick-up truck near 13th and Ruscomb streets in Logan at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, threatening the woman with arrest if she did not perform a sex act.

Philadelphia Police Lieutenant John Stanford says the woman complied, but then broke free from the pick-up several blocks later, the suspect then pursuing her as she hid among cars.

Police say the suspect, Lieutenant Jemal Johnson, an 18 year veteran assigned to Ladder Company 14 in North Philadelphia, was still wearing his fire uniform pants, which may have aided in his officer impersonation.

He was arrested in his pick-up blocks away in the 4800 block of North 12th Street after, police say, the alleged victim was able to call police on her phone providing a description and license tag.

A Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson says officials there will have no comment until the suspect is arraigned.

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