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Last updated on Friday, August 24, 2012
(SEYMOUR) - Police arrested a man Tuesday on charges of theft after money was stolen from a Redding Township firefighter’s wallet while he helped put out a fire.
Michael Miller, 32, of Seymour, was arrested by Jackson County Sheriff's Department on charges of theft and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle.
He was released from jail on a $1,005 bond at 9:32 p.m. Tuesday, according to jail records.
Officers said there might be other arrests in the case and encouraged anyone with information to call the sheriff's department at (812) 358-2141.
The theft occurred when the Redding Township Fire Department responded to a fire in the 9000 block of North County Road 625E on Aug. 16. Officer Rick Meyer said upon returning to a fire truck, a firefighter noticed his wallet had been taken from the truck.
Meyer said, the wallet was found later near the scene of the fire, but the money was missing, Meyer said.
Fire Chief Steve Cox said the department responded to a number of fires that night and was assisting Hamilton Township Fire Department as well as fighting a house fire on Madden Hill that started from a lightning strike.
Cox said firefighters often leave their cellphones and wallets in the fire trucks to ensure that they are not lost at the scene of a fire. He said he's never encountered an incident where items were stolen.
"Normally, you think you're out there trying to help someone," Cox said. " You don't think someone is going to take things."
Cox said there is a lot of equipment on fire trucks that is used in the process of fighting fires. He said even when equipment has been left behind it was promptly returned.
"Everyone is just trying to help one another," Cox said.
Jackson County Sheriff's Department received information on people possibly involved with the theft. After interviewing those people, officers arrested Miller, Meyer said.
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