Authorities arrest Cal Fire paramedic from Placentia on sex assault charges

A Cal Fire firefighter-paramedic who lives in Placentia was arrested at his Orange County home Friday on suspicion of sexually assaulting two women, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said.

The arrest, reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, comes more than three months after Cal Fire placed the suspect on administrative leave — and investigators said they believe additional victims may exist beyond the two women whose allegations prompted the inquiry.

David Renteria III, 51, of Placentia was taken into custody without incident Friday morning at his residence on Limerick Drive, according to Riverside County sheriff's investigators, as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. The arrest followed an investigation by the county's Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-agency unit that received information about two separate sex crimes allegedly committed by Renteria.

Renteria faces charges including forcible rape, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, sexual penetration by force, and related offenses. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

Cal Fire said it learned of the allegations on Jan. 4, 2026, and immediately placed Renteria on leave. "Renteria was served with administrative time off paperwork and has not returned to duty since Cal Fire was made aware of the allegations on Jan. 4, 2026," the agency said in a statement released Friday, according to ABC7.

"Cal Fire demands its employees uphold standards of professional conduct both on- and off-duty," the statement said. The agency also said it "has fully cooperated with the sheriff's office throughout this investigation and appreciates their ongoing efforts to seek justice. We remain committed to supporting the process and ensuring accountability."

Renteria is employed by Cal Fire, which is contracted by Riverside County to provide fire protection services in the region. Investigators said they believe there may be additional victims beyond the two women whose allegations prompted the inquiry.

The case remains under investigation. Cal Fire said it is committed to supporting the legal process and ensuring accountability in the matter.