Man Drills Hole in Car, Starts a Fire

A Postville man has been charged for allegedly stealing gas from vehicles, igniting one on fire, in the process.

Last Thursday (Nov. 6) the Fayette County Sheriff filed charges of 2nd degree criminal mischief and 3rd degree criminal mischief against Aaron Hickman.

Hickman was charged after a two week investigation, that begin October 23rd in Elgin. At about 7am that morning, the Fayette County Sheriff and Elgin fire department were called out on the report of a vehicle that was fully engulfed, parked next to a building owned by Chapman Electric.

The investigation determined that Hickman was apparently trying to steal gas from the vehicle, owned by Brian Schroeder, by drilling a hole into the fuel tank. In the process, the fuel ignited. The van was totaled, and the building next to it, sustained $4,000 in fire damage.

Hickman had left the scene before authorities arrived, driving to Clermont where he again drilled a hole into a vehicle, trying to steal gas.

The Postville Police Department and Elgin Fire Department assisted the Fayette County Sheriff in the investigation.

-0-