An Miami-Dade firefighter has been released from jail on bond after he was arrested for impersonating a police officer, authorities said.



Off-duty firefighter Osvaldo Alvarez, 52, was arrested late Thursday for falsely impersonating an officer, burglary of a car and simple battery, according to an arrest affidavit released Friday.



During his bond court appearance Friday, Alvarez told the judge that he makes around $80,000 a year without overtime, but pays child support for three children and cannot afford an attorney.

But he was able to post bond, which was set at $28,000.



According to the report, Alvarez was driving his truck on Southwest 81st Drive when he approached another driver and yelled at him to "drive better."



The other driver gave Alvarez the middle finger and Alvarez followed him to the parking lot at the shopping center at 8333 Southwest 81st Avenue, the report said.



Alvarez approached the victim and slapped the hood of his car before the victim drove around him to another part of the parking lot, the report said. Alvarez drove his truck to where the victim was and parked behind him, blocking his exit.



Alvarez approached the car and the victim rolled down his window and apologized. Alvarez then reached inside the car and grabbed the victim's hand, the report said.



"I could arrest you for trying to run me over!" Alvarez told the other driver, according to the report. Witnesses who heard Alvarez yelling and believed he was an officer, called police for backup.



When a real officer arrived, he saw that Alvarez was wearing a Miami-Dade Police T-shirt but quickly discovered he wasn't a cop and placed him under arrest, the report said.



During his court appearance Friday, prosecutors said Alvarez had been arrested for false impersonation in 2002.

The judge told Alvarez to stay away from the victim, who lives in the same neighborhood, though they did not know each other before the incident.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's only statement Friday was that Alvarez has been a firefighter since 2003.

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