Police Chase Stolen Union Township Fire Department Brush Truck

Jan. 10--Three law enforcement agencies participated in a pursuit of a stolen fire truck from Union Township Thursday night. The pursuit ended in Shawnee State Forest and sent one 17-year-old boy to the hospital.

According to an incident report from the Scioto County Sheriff's Department, a report was received around 9 p.m. on Thursday night concerning a stolen 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4x4 Brush-Utility truck from the Union Township Fire Department. The truck is valued at $80,000.

"On 1/9/2014, I responded to State Route 23 in Rosemount/ Clay Township area in regard to a State Highway Patrol Unit and Deputy (Craig) Ashley being in active pursuit of a fire truck heading south bound on State Route 23," said Officer Stephen Sissel in his report for the Scioto County Sheriff's Office. "Information obtained was that State Highway Patrol unit was lead pursuing unit of the fire truck that was being operated at a very high rate of speed."

Sissel said that he joined the pursuit as it was on Ohio State Route 23, headed southbound. He said at that time law enforcement agencies responding to the pursuit included Ohio State Highway Patrol, Scioto County Sheriff's Office, and units from the Portsmouth Police Department.

"Law enforcement units lost visual sight of the fire truck in the area of State Route 73 at the State Route 104 split," Sissel said.

He said truck was first noticed missing by a witness who ultimately reported it to the Union Township Fire Department Chief, who reported it to law enforcement. The witness later saw the truck traveling on Arian Road and followed it into Shawnee Forest. According to the report, the witness followed the tire tracks in the snow to discover the truck had overturned on Forest Road 1. The vehicle was crashed, upside down in a ditch.

A 17-year-old boy was extracted from the truck and transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center, and was later transported to Grant Hospital for treatment.

Sissel said charges will be filed in Scioto County Juvenile Court against the minor for grand theft auto and breaking and entering.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or [email protected]. For breaking news, follow Wayne on Twitter @WayneallenPDT.