LOMITA, Calif. -- District attorney's investigators arrested an L.A. City firefighter Tuesday for allegedly filing false worker's compensation insurance claims while moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter.
Raphael "Noodle" Davis, 35, was arrested about 9 a.m. at his Lomita home.
He posted $30,000 bail and was released from custody just after midnight, according to sheriff's booking records.
Prosecutors filed four felony counts of insurance fraud against him in connection with worker's compensation insurance claims filed between December 2008 and May 2011.
Law enforcement officials say Davis was fighting MMA bouts when he was allegedly too hurt to be working.
He was receiving worker's compensation to the tune of $30,000 at the same time that he took part in two fights, according to the DA's office.
As a fighter, Davis has trained at Reign Training Center in Orange County. He began fighting in 2006.
According to the website Sherdog, which tracks MMA, Davis has a record of 12-2.The site says his latest fight was a technical knockout.
His alleged misconduct may not have ever been noticed, had it not been so easy to track his personal life on YouTube and even Twitter.
At 6'3" and 203 pounds, video on YouTube shows Davis appearing to be in very good shape.
And on March 7, Davis wrote on Twitter: "Just finished running 2.5 miles in 16:44 min. Not to (sic) bad for an old guy!"
If convicted of the charges against him, Davis faces up to five years in jail.
When KTLA sought comment at Davis' home Tuesday, no one answered the front door.
Copyright 2012 - KTLA-TV, Los Angeles
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
