Greensburg Daily News
GREENSBURG, Ind. — A former New Point volunteer firefighter is facing multiple felony theft charges amid allegations he stole fire department equipment, charged gas to the department’s account and pilfered tools from various county residents.
Tracey S. Cook, 41, was arrested over the weekend and has been charged with two counts of burglary and five counts of theft across three different cases, according to court documents. All of the charges are classified as felonies.
Cook faces three counts of theft in an investigation that began in September when another New Point firefighter contacted the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department and informed investigators the fire department’s chainsaw had been missing for approximately a year from the fire station. The victim in the case also told county investigators that approximately $500 worth of gasoline had been charged to the account of the New Point Volunteer Fire Department without authorization. Investigators were also informed that Cook, who “had been relieved of his duties” with the fire department never returned department equipment upon termination. These items included a fire helmet and a radio.
According to a police report, the New Point firefighter reporting the alleged crime told investigators the fire department helmet had been seen at a Greensburg pawn shop. Investigators later discovered the helmet at the pawn shop as well as tickets showing a chain saw matching the description of the New Point Volunteer Fire Department’s had been pawned there some time earlier. Pawn shop staff told deputies the chain saw had since been sold and that Cook had attempted to pawn a radio which store staff declined to accept.
Cook was interviewed by Sheriff’s Lt. Rick Underhill in September while the suspect was incarcerated in the Ripley County Jail on an unrelated charge. Cook allegedly told Lt. Underhill he did not receive permission to pawn items belonging to the fire department, but admitted to some of the gas charges. Cook allegedly disputed some of the fuel charges stating he had permission to purchase it. The fire helmet was later returned to its rightful owners.
In another case, sheriff’s deputies allege Cook entered a barn or shed in the 7300 block of East Base Road in Greensburg on April 3 and stole two grinders and a drill set along with its charger and batteries. Investigators believe Cook also pawned these items at the same shop where the fire helmet was recovered.
Pawn tickets at the store showed the Base Road resident’s missing items had been processed at the pawn shop. Cook allegedly told investigators he took the grinder from a pick-up truck after returning the Base Road resident’s dog after it had wandered onto Cook’s property. Cook is alleged to have admitted to taking the grinder from the truck because he was in need of money, but denied stealing the drill. At the time of the incident, the victims told police a piggy bank containing change was missing from their daughter’s room. The home and barn had not been locked, police said in the report.
Cook faces charges of burglary and theft in a third case dating back to last spring as well.
Sheriff’s deputies believe Cook entered a garage through an unlocked door sometime between March 30 and April 4, and stole a chainsaw and a cordless drill, according to charging information filed Oct. 10 in Decatur Circuit Court.
During the same interview in which Cook is alleged to have admitted to previous thefts, officers say Cook acknowledged taking the chainsaw and the drill reported missing in the case, but denied taking guns the victim claimed were also stolen. Cook allegedly told investigators he sold the drill.
Cook remained incarcerated in the Decatur County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond by Daily News press time Tuesday.
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