Man Arrested after Allegedly Driving off with IL Apparatus

A Jacksonville man is behind bars after being arrested for allegedly stealing a Jacksonville Fire Department fire truck.

Cory M. Fisher, 30, of the 900 block of Doolin Avenue was arrested by Jacksonville police officers Sunday morning. Fisher was arraigned in Morgan County court and formally charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen fire engine, a felony, and criminal trespassing to a motor vehicle.

Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chris Reif set Fisher's bond at $50,000 Monday.

Fisher had a revoked driver's license. He was cited for reckless driving Sunday.

Fisher's first appearance is scheduled for July 12.

Fire departments crews had been working on the two-year-old fire truck, said Jacksonville police Lt. Doug Thompson, so it was outside of the bay.

The fire station is located in the 200 block of West Douglas Avenue, in the central part of Jacksonville.

The diesel heavy rescue pumper was running, said Jacksonville fire chief Doug Sills. Fire personnel were showing a guest some specialty equipment no more than 20 feet from where the rig was parked, Sills said.

Fisher apparently got into the truck unnoticed. Sills said one of the driver engineers heard the parking brake disengaged, and the truck take off, but he assumed it was the driver bringing the truck around to the back of the station.

The driver engineer later realized the driver was not a Jacksonville firefighter, Sills said.

The fire truck sustained minor damage when Fisher was stopped on North Church Street, just north of Douglas, Thompson said. Fisher had gone about five blocks, Thompson said.

There were no injuries reported.

Fisher was in Morgan County court last Tuesday on a February charge of possession of methamphetamine (under five grams). Reif accepted Fisher's guilty plea in the case and he was credited with time served in jail.

Fisher was placed on two years probation.

___

(c)2021 The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.

Visit The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill. at www.sj-r.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.