Former Hamilton County employee arrested for fire station thefts totaling $2,600

UPDATE (Oct. 6):

Chief Operating Officer David Roddy has provided more information on the person responsible for thefts around volunteer fire departments. He stated that Dean no longer works for the county.

“Hamilton County had substantial evidence to terminate the employment of Derek Lamar Dean. On September 27th, he was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies on felony theft charges for stealing equipment from Volunteer Fire Departments. He was placed on leave without pay following the arrest and after a thorough internal investigation, he has been relieved of all duties and is no longer a Hamilton County employee. As he is now a former employee, we have no further comment on the matter,” Roddy said.

EARLIER (Sept. 27):

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) made an arrest after investigating a series of thefts at local fire stations.

Derek Lamar Dean (From Hamilton County Jail)

Those thefts happened at four different stations September 21. Deputies responded to the call about the thefts at 8:45 a.m. on September 26 at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department, station 3.

The fire department noticed one thing in common at all the stations was a man who inspected their heating units.

The sheriff’s office identified that man as Derek Lamar Dean, an employee of the Hamilton County Maintenance Division.

Authorities then reviewed video footage to determine that Dean was present at these locations. Footage from one location showed Dean in a Hamilton County uniform, stealing a weed eater.

The HCSO obtained a felony warrant for Dean’s arrest on theft of property of $2,600.

The sheriff’s office said Dean stole two $700 blowers, a $250 weed eater, a $600 PlayStation 5 and a $350 chainsaw.

They say he committed those thefts at fire stations on Career Lane, Birchwood Pike, Highway 58 and Cooley Road.

Deputies took Dean into custody and took him to the Hamilton County Jail.