Man steals vehicle from Paulding County fire station

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — Police are investigating after someone broke into a fire station in Paulding County and stole a rescue vehicle.

According to authorities, the man broke into Paulding County Fire and Rescue Station #3 on Mount Tabor Church Road just after 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Police say Zachary Paulk, 28, broke in while the fire crew was out training.

"At this point we are still trying to determine how he got into the station," Paulding County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

Paulk stole a rescue vehicle worth $90,000 and and drove it through the closed door of the firehouse, causing significant damage, fire officials said.

Then he drove the vehicle down Mount Tabor Road, hitting several mailboxes along the way.

The rescue vehicle eventually crashed with a red Ford F150 in the 2600 block of Bobo Road. Paulk ran to a nearby house where he was caught shortly after.

"Come down the road, he's swerving. I got over as fast as far as I could, but he smashed me," Richard Crowe said.

Deputies say Paulk was just days out of the county jail.

He was apparently hallucinating about an attack with either guns or arrows.

"The young man who came out of the fire rescue truck started screaming about, 'He's got a gun. He's got a gun. He's trying to shoot me,'" neighbor William Maloney said.

Crews hope to have the fire station reopened Monday evening. The damaged garage doors will have to be custom built again.

Cox Media Group