Trending Topics

Ga. man steals, crashes rig through fire station

The firefighters were at a training session when dispatch notified them that one of their rigs was sending unauthorized distress transmissions

ga-rig-crash-FR.jpg

The stolen rig the side of the road after being crashed.

Photo courtesy 11alive

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A man broke into a fire station, stole a rescue truck and crashed it through the bay doors Monday.

Firefighters from that station were a few blocks away participating in a training session when they were notified that dispatch was receiving unauthorized distress transmissions over the department’s secure radio network.

Shortly after the unauthorized transmissions, dispatch began to receive calls from neighbors reporting a fire department vehicle speeding and driving erratically through the neighborhood, reported 11alive.

Zachary Lee Paulk, 27, then led police on a chase through the neighborhood where he crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another car.

Paulk was arrested after crashing the rig and attempting to steal another vehicle from a nearby home. He was held down by neighbors until authorities arrived.