Texas Firefighter Who Stole Items in Uniform Charged

Feb. 01--A College Station firefighter resigned from the department Friday morning, a day after turning himself into police in connection with two misdemeanor charges of theft, officials with the police and fire departments said.

According to an arrest report, Bond Curtiss Donahoe, 43, on two separate occasions stole items from Target and Lowe's worth a total of about $880. Donahoe, of Bryan, turned himself in Thursday evening after a warrant was obtained by College Station investigators, Lt. Chuck Fleeger said.

Fire department spokesman Bart Humphreys said Donahoe resigned early Friday. He declined to comment on the investigation.

"The College Station Fire Department and all of its members are deeply saddened and disappointed by the actions that came to light through this investigation," Fire Chief Eric Hurt said Friday in a written statement. "We're appreciative of all the support from the community and the trust they place in our organization every day. We will continue to uphold the highest standards expected of our department and this city and continue to work to make a difference every day."

Donahoe's attorney, Dan Jones, also declined to comment on the investigation, which officials say is ongoing. Jones did ask that the public give Donahoe the benefit of the doubt.

"He was willing to risk his life to protect the citizens of College Station, and so I just ask that we give him the courtesy of his day in court and let all the facts come in," Jones said.

College Station investigators said in the arrest report that surveillance footage from both stores captured Donahoe taking the items earlier this month.

According to the arrest report, Donahoe entered the Lowe's in College Station -- wearing his College Station Fire Department uniform -- on Jan. 2. The report said surveillance footage captured Donahoe picking out a DeWalt tool set, valued at $579, and exchanging the tools at the returns counter for a gift card. Lowe's policy allows a customer to return an item without a receipt as long as they have an ID, the report stated.

On Jan. 17, surveillance footage captured Donahoe stealing a $300 GoPro HD 1080P digital camera from Target by placing it under his CSFD uniform jacket, a second arrest report stated.

When officers asked Donahoe how he knew he could exchange the item at Lowe's without a receipt, he told the investigators that "he didn't know if he could do it so he tried it," the report stated.

Donahoe was previously arrested in November 2000 in Brazos County on a misdemeanor theft by check charge, according to court records, which state the case was dismissed after restitution was made by Donahoe.

Theft of an item valued between $500 and $1500 is a class A misdemeanor; stealing an item between $50 and $500 is a class B misdemeanor.

Copyright 2014 - The Eagle, Bryan, Texas