LURAY, Va. — A Fairfax County fire engine that was being serviced at a nearby company was stolen and recovered Monday morning, but not before traveling 60 miles down I-66.
According to Prince William police officials investigating the case, fire engine 421 went missing around 1 a.m. Monday from Atlantic Emergency Solutions in Manassas, Virginia. Chief CS Bow Cook says the suspect drove the truck through a chain-linked fence.
AES is a major dealer and maintenance service provider for law enforcement and emergency vehicles up and down the east coast. According to their website, the Manassas location is only one of 18 regional service centers.
Fire and police officials were on the lookout for the engine when it was spotted being driven by a man in the town of Luray. The fire engine was recovered after the driver was pulled over and parked in a grassy area near a subdivision. The distance it traveled from Atlantic Emergency Solutions' location to Luray totaled more than 60 miles, most of which likely was down westbound route I-66, according to investigators.
According to CBS Affiliate WHSV out of Harrisburg, Luray Police arrested 24-year-old Nolan Cornell of Spotsylvania County after he drove past officers in another car. A witness pointed out Cornell to officers. Cornell is charged with possession of stolen property.
Prince William County officials were notified of the recovered "pumper" shortly after 11 a.m.
Fairfax Fire officials confirmed there was no disruption to emergency operations since the vehicle was out of service for maintenance.
Service companies like Atlantic Emergency Solutions have fenced-in lots and surveillance cameras for security at their various locations across multiple states. WUSA9 has reached out to AES for comment on the circumstances of the fire engine theft but has not heard back.