Until Patten was arrested this week, his scam netted a late 1990s model Honda Accord - with a $10,000 check written on a closed account, said police investigator Dwight Hasty of the west precinct.

Patten also got two diamond engagement rings, with a combined value of more than $7,000, writing bad checks while wearing a HEMSI or MedFlight uniform, Hasty said.

On Wednesday, Huntsville police charged Patten, 27, with first-degree theft by deception and first-degree receiving stolen property. He was arrested at Madison Square Mall wearing a HEMSI uniform.

A state Department of Public Health official plans to sign a warrant against Patten for impersonating a state-licensed paramedic, said Don Webster of HEMSI, or Huntsville Emergency Medical Services Inc.

"It's been a frustrating and scary situation," Webster said Friday. "What if someone needed help and called him to assist, and he didn't know what to do?"

Hasty said police found a HEMSI uniform with paramedic patches, two fire department radios and a police badge in Patten's possession.

There was a clip for an ID badge on the HEMSI shirt, but no ID badge.

"Anyone wearing a HEMSI uniform should always have a picture ID card displayed," Webster said.

Suspicious

A girlfriend became suspicious Wednesday night and called police to say she thought her boyfriend had proposed to her with a stolen engagement ring. At that time, police were arresting Patten.

The next day, the woman met with Hasty to return the marquis-shaped diamond in its small velvet red box. It had been purchased with a bad check, Hasty said.

"She was angry, hurt and embarrassed," he said.

For the past two weeks, Hasty, Sgt. Brent Thatcher and investigator Jim Cook have been working with Webster and Mike Sublett, deputy chief of Huntsville Fire & Rescue, to solve multiple cases allegedly involving Patten.

Hasty said Patten had visited and even had dinner with firefighters after telling them he worked for HEMSI. Sublett said fire department radios disappeared from two of the city's 16 stations this month.

Webster said HEMSI is still trying to find out how Patten obtained the HEMSI uniform. He said any uniform purchase for HEMSI by its supplier is handled by a designated HEMSI employee. Sometimes, employees pick up their uniform from the supplier, but the order is always made through the office.

MedFlight Program Director Stiles Clarke described Patten as a "public safety wannabe."

'Knock-off version'

"I doubt he has one of our flight suits, because they are custom-made for each employee," Clarke said. "What he probably has is some knock-off version of it.

"I can tell you, he's not been on the aircraft."

Emergency services providers expressed relief the impersonator had been caught.

"Everyone has said that he's a real smooth talker," Hasty said.

"He was one of the nicest guys to talk to," Sublett said of Patten. "He seemed genuinely concerned" about issues relating to public safety.

Felony charges

Since June, Patten has been charged with at least seven counts of writing checks on a closed account. Hasty said because the account belonged to Patten and he knew it was closed, those charges are felonies, not misdemeanors. Additional worthless check charges are pending, he said.

Patten is being held in the Madison County Detention Facility in lieu of bonds totaling $10,000. In addition, he is being held on multiple bond forfeitures and has been placed on a temporary hold for pending charges from Huntsville police.

Hasty said he planned to obtain a warrant against Patten today on a charge of second-degree theft by deception for one of the two diamond rings.

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