Former Dobson firefighters charged in theft of gear

Three former Dobson volunteer firefighters have been charged in connection with the theft of more than $30,000 worth of fire and rescue gear and equipment, authorities said.

Each was charged with at least one count of felony embezzlement by a public officer/trustee.

Among other charges, Hank Glenn Ayers, 21, of 465 Hamlin Ford Road, and Curtis Alan Draughn, 22, of 530 Hamlin Ford Road, were both charged with multiple counts of felony possession of stolen goods/property as well as related misdemeanors. Christopher Robert Draughn, 19, of 224 Hill Top Lane, was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of stolen property.

The men are all first cousins. They were arrested Wednesday and have court dates on Sept. 15.

Christopher Draughn declined comment Thursday. Hank Ayers and Curtis Draughn could not be reached.

Dobson Police Chief Shawn Myers said the stolen property included air packs, firefighter gear, a fire truck battery charger, air masks, three fire hoses, soap to wash vehicles, radios and safety vests.

Most of the items were recovered.

Most of it – about $26,544 worth of the equipment and gear -- was stolen from the Dobson Fire Department, Myers said, while a Motorola radio and traffic vest worth a combined $3,025 were stolen from NU Care, a private ambulance service where Ayers worked.

A radio worth $650 was stolen from a Surry County ambulance and found in Curtis Draughn's truck, Myers said, and two safety vests were stolen from the Dobson Rescue Squad.

The men had been volunteer firefighters with the Dobson Fire Department for about two years, said Fire Chief Ricky Draughn, who is also the mayor of Dobson and a distant relation to the men.

An investigation began in December when a rapid battery charger for one of the fire trucks was missing, police said. Someone had also cut four locks off lockers and taken things that included soap.

After the Dobson Fire Department assisted in a wildfire in Lowgap in February, the fire department couldn't find some of the specialized woodland turnout gear. The fire department had just four sets of those.

The fire department has about 25 members, and it's not unusual to have to track down equipment after fighting fires, Ricky Draughn said.

"You might lose a pair of gloves or a helmet," he said. "Sometimes it's an honest mistake; a member might have thrown it into the back of his truck and forgot. That's what I was hoping.

Video: America's most unusual fire truck unveiled

The department converted a dump truck that the city's water department no longer wanted, and rigged it with shock absorbers in the back, a flashing arrow sign on the rear and the paint, chevrons and emergency lights typical of fire trucks, according to WOOD .

Three crashes where drivers struck fire department vehicles used for blocking traffic had taken place during a recent eight-month span, causing about $150,000 in damages.

The attenuators attached to the back of the new truck help absorb energy of a crash to protect both the responders and the passengers in the vehicle.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Apparatus History

Fire Trucks and Rescue Vehicles

Fire Trucks

Fire truck

Converting vehicles for use as fire apparatus or rescue trucks