Suspect charged with stealing truck from fire station

MADISON HEIGHTS — A Romulus man stands accused of entering a fire station in Madison Heights and driving away with one of the department’s vehicles.

The suspect is identified as Ashon Lamar Norman, 30. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office charged him Aug. 26 with one felony count of unlawfully driving away with a motor vehicle, and one felony count of larceny in a building. The same day, Norman was arraigned by Magistrate Michael Mitchell at the Madison Heights 43rd District Court. His bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety. At press time, the next court date had not been set, and no attorney was on record for Norman.

Police said the original incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Madison Heights Fire Station No. 1, located at 31313 Brush St. in the Civic Center Complex on West 13 Mile Road near the corner of John R Road.

The vehicle is a 2021 Chevy Silverado pickup truck with an extended cab. The upper half is black, and the lower half is red with a black stripe outlined in gold along the sides. The truck features a light bar, as well as the logo of the Madison Heights Fire Department on the doors.

According to police, the suspect entered an unlocked door at the fire station and drove out of the building by using keys that were located near where the vehicle was parked. The suspect then reportedly traveled in an unknown direction.

The vehicle was entered into a computer system used by police, and other agencies were notified with its information. Police said a surveillance video camera captured footage of the suspect, which led to him being identified.

Two days later, on Aug. 25, around 5 p.m., the truck was reportedly located by Madison Heights police officers on Midland Street in Detroit. The unoccupied vehicle appeared to be undamaged and was recovered without incident. Police said they then located the suspect down the street from the vehicle and took him into custody.

The Detroit Police Department assisted Madison Heights officers while they were in Detroit, investigating verbal tips from witnesses in the neighborhood.

Madison Heights Police Lt. Michael Siladke said in an email that the incident was a brazen crime of opportunity. He said that it seems unlikely that the vehicle was specifically targeted.

“It just happened to be there, and accessible to the suspect,” Siladke said. “The theft of a fully marked fire vehicle is something that was surprising, but it appears the suspect was desperate to get back to the Detroit area. Unfortunately, like this incident, crimes do happen all hours of the day, and some in very public areas. This crime was resolved by detectives who were persistent in following every lead that presented itself, which resulted in a positive outcome, with the vehicle being recovered and the suspect being arrested.”