CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Clearwater police officer arrested an off-duty paramedic who, despite being asked to leave, claimed he was trying to take video of Thursday evening's fatal plane crash at a mobile home park in an attempt to make money, according to an arrest report.
Joseph Schifano, 66, faces an obstruction charge for restraining an officer without violence.
10 Tampa Bay has reached out to Schifano for comment but has not heard back. IONTB was the first to report this story.
Police say Schifano was seen trying to get past the yellow police tape at Sumo Drive at Nagano Drive at the Bayside Waters mobile home community after the fiery plane crash. He reportedly identified himself as medical staff but could not provide proof of employment or duty, the report reads.
It notes that he's employed with Sunstar Paramedics.
A sergeant later found him at Nagano and Rice Paddy drives crossing underneath the tape.
Schifano "advised that he was 'just nosey.' He was warned about staying out of the crime scene and advised to move along," according to the report.
The arresting officer, Kyle Bingham, saw Schifano walk around his position "in an attempt to conceal himself." He walked underneath the tape and was seen taking a video of the crash, the officer wrote in the report.
The off-duty member "said that he knew he was wrong, apologized, and said he was trying to capture a video for a media company in an attempt to make money."
Schifano's license with the Florida Department of Health is listed as "clear/active," and he has no disciplinary cases against him. Pinellas County Jail records show he was released from jail Friday morning on a $500 bond.
Authorities on Saturday identified three people who died after the plane crashed into the mobile home community and ignited several homes. Jemin Patel, 54, of Melbourne Beach, Florida, was the pilot; Martha Parry, 86, of Clearwater lived in the mobile that was hit by the plane, while Mary Ellen Pender, 54, of Treasure Island, was visiting.