Teen Takes Fire Truck For Joyride

Teen Takes Fire Truck For Joyride: "Thought It Would Be Fun"

Brandon, Florida — Hillsborough County investigators say they know who stole a fire engine from Fire Station 7 Saturday: a teen who used to hang around the fire house, washing trucks and learning the equipment.

Michael Bellamy, 17, of Allamond Avenue confessed to the caper Monday night, explaining he wanted to take the truck for a joyride and "thought it would be fun," the sheriff's office said.

Bellamy admitted he called the fire station, claiming to be a representative of Emergency One, the truck's manufacturer.  He requested the fire engine be left outside for a pick up, said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway.

Then, Callaway said, Bellamy made a false 911 medical call that emptied the fire station of all personnel.

When everybody was gone, he hopped in the fire engine and took it for a joyride --  emergency lights on, and siren blaring.

Bellamy said a friend named "Dante" was driving the fire engine when it got mired in sand at a construction site at Progress Village.

Bellamy was charged with grand theft and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.  He also faces a charge of making a false 911 call.

Bellamy told investigators he's been interested in fire engines since he was a child, hanging out at various fire stations, washing the trucks and getting to know the equipment.

"He gave no real reason to steal the engine other than he knew how to start it and operate it, and thought he just wanted to take it for a ride," Callaway said.

"He said he did it just to have fun."


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*** He's in a little bit of trouble.