Authorities have arrested a 72-year-old man dubbed the ‘Nail Bandit.’ His arrest follows a lengthy investigation into the sabotage of emergency vehicles.
According to a press release by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, troopers have arrested John Allan Starnes in connection with the crimes. They call the case “Operation Nail Bandit.” Authorities say they started the inquiry following “repeated acts of sabotage targeting Okeechobee County Fire Rescue Station 1 and the Emergency Operations Center.”
Staff have reportedly found “sharp objects” intentionally placed behind the wheels of emergency vehicles over the past 19 months. Those items include nails and “modified wire wheels.” The Sheriff’s office claims the objects were also placed around emergency access points.
“These actions caused tire damage and endangered fire personnel and the public they serve, potentially delaying emergency response,” the statement reads.
Officers Arrested The Nail Bandit After Weeks Of Surveillance
Officers caught Starner red-handed on July 10. This was allegedly after weeks of surveillance during the early hours. Authorities arrested and charged the Nail Bandit during a traffic stop. The press release explains he confessed to all six documented incidents.
Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief said, “Tampering with fire rescue vehicles is not just criminal – it endangers every resident of this county. We are grateful no one was hurt, and proud of the focused work of our CAT team.”
During a press conference, Sheriff Stephen said that Fire Rescue Station 1 is the “main out location” for fire response in the county. He also clarified that authorities found sharp objects around workers’ private vehicles. Stephen said Starnes “has a beef” with Okeechobee County Fire Rescue. “[He] thought it best that he go ahead and handle the situation himself by endangering the men and women of Okeechobee County and County Fire Rescue,” he said. The Sheriff also shared some images of the sharp objects, noting that they found them in Starnes’ possession.
A report by WPTV claims that Starnes is “a familiar face.” Fire Chief Earl Wooton said, “We had a fire at his house three years ago on his property.” Following the arrest, Wooton added, “It’s definitely a relief to not worry about that no more.”