LAFD Spokesman Allegedly Used Official Car in Beef with Uber Driver

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Peter Sanders, a civilian employee and chief spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, is accused of using a city vehicle to stop and threaten an Uber driver who got into a shouting match with Sanders’ wife in a parking lot.

The incident occurred at a Trader Joe’s in Studio City and spilled onto Ventura Boulevard on June 15, according to a police report. The report does not identify Sanders by name, but sources close to the investigation told a media outlet he and his wife are the ones involved.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the incident.

Sanders has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

After Uber driver Harry Michaels and Sanders’ wife got into an argument over his attempt to drive past her car, Michaels said, a black car pulled up behind him with lights and sirens on, the report said.

Michaels stopped, and Sanders and his wife jumped out of their vehicles and swore at him, the report said. The wife then allegedly kicked the door of Michaels’ 2015 Mercedes-Benz, according to the report. Michaels told police he got out to warn the couple not to touch his car. That’s when Michaels says Peter Sanders pushed him in the chest, urging Michaels to hit him, the report said.

“You don’t talk to my wife that way,” Michaels said Sanders told him, according to the report. “I’m going to (expletive) you up. Do you know who I am? I’m the Fire Department and I can have you arrested right now.”

Michaels claims that after he got back in his car, Sanders smashed his hand in the door, the report said. Michaels drove away but said Sanders pulled behind him again with the lights and sirens on. Michaels said he told Sanders he called police. Sanders drove away. The report does not include any statements from him or his wife.

Assistant Chief Pat Butler, the former president and vice president of the Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Officers Union, said he has complained previously about Sanders having a car with lights and siren, as well as getting a firefighter uniform, because he is a civilian employee.