Story Created:
Mar 19, 2010
Story Updated:
Mar 19, 2010
The Laredo Fire Department is coordinating efforts with the City Building Department to make sure businesses don’t open without proper permits.
Police arrested a city employee for allegedly forging a fire inspector's signature and handing over a certificate of occupancy, allowing an eight-liner business to open despite failing a fire inspection.
The business has since passed its inspection and re-opened but there're questions about how many others may be operating illegally.
Fire officials say one of their investigators noticed the business was open when it shouldn't have been and reported it to authorities.
Annabella Ramirez was charged with Tampering With Government Records, Felony Three.
She was arrested on Thursday, booked, and taken to the Webb County Jail on a 5,000 bond.
