Fire Captain Arrested in Heroin Sting Near Fire Station

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that LAFD Capt. Mark Phillipsen was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of attempting to purchase heroin from an undercover LAPD officer on Avenue 61 and North Figueroa Street.

The location of the undercover sting took place just one block away from local Fire Station 12, which serves Highland Park.

LAPD officials would not comment on whether Phillipsen was currently assigned to Station 12.

The Full Times Story Can be Read Here

LAFD would not answer specific questions about the sting, but did release the following statement:

The Los Angeles Fire Department has recently learned that a member of the department was arrested on Wednesday November 9th 2011 in the Northeast section of Los Angeles for a narcotics violation.

The matter is currently under investigation by the LAPD. The Los Angeles Fire Department's professional standards division has been notified and will be conducting an investigation concurrent with any criminal investigation.

Asked why Capt. Phillipsen had become the target of an undercover sting, LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva declined to comment.

LAFD Capt. Jamie Moore, who handles media relations, could not be reached a the time of this article's posting.

Continue to follow Patch as we follow this developing story.

Because of an error in the Los Angeles Times story, an earlier version of this Patch article misspelled Phillipsen's name as Phillipsed. Patch regrets the error.