ELGIN – An Iowa man twice tried to siphon gas from fuel tanks on vehicles and in the process started a van and a building on fire, leading to his arrest.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, on November 6, Aaron Kristen Hickman of Postville was arrested and charged with second and third degree criminal mischief after a two week investigation involving a vehicle fire in the city of Elgin.
On October 23, deputies with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Elgin Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fully engulfed in flames next to a building owned by Chapman Electric in Elgin. During the investigation, it was determined that Hickman was attempting to steal gas from the vehicle owned by Brian Schroeder that was parked at that location. Hickman had drilled a hole into the fuel tank of the vehicle and while in the process the fuel ignited causing the vehicle to catch fire. The van was considered to be a total loss. While the vehicle was burning it caused the building owned by Chapman Electric to receive over $4,000 in damage.
Hickman left the scene prior to law enforcement arrival and drove to Clermont, Iowa where he used a tool to drill a hole into the fuel tank of another vehicle in an attempt to steal fuel. He was caught and arrested.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Postville Police Department and the Elgin Fire Department.
