A Crestview man was arrested last week for burning his own vehicle to defraud his insurer, lawmen say.
According to investigation records from the Florida State Fire Marshal, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle fire at 3393 U.S. Highway 90 at the Roy Lynn Barnes Public Boat Ramp on March 24, 2015.
The owner of the vehicle, Christopher Talbert, told deputies he had parked his 2010 Chevrolet truck by the boat ramp around 3 p.m. the day before and went to the beach area. He left the truck parked overnight and returned the following day to find the truck interior burned and stereo equipment missing.
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According to the report, the truck sustained light fire and smoke damage inside, with the heaviest damage located in the driver’s seat. The investigator also noticed a “strong smell” of gasoline inside the truck.
In an interview with the Fire Marshal’s office, Talbert said he met his wife at the boat ramp and when he returned to the truck it was hard to start and the check engine light turned on. He told investigators he decided to leave the truck overnight and rode home with his wife.
When he came back the next morning, he discovered the interior was set on fire, the stereo equipment had been stolen and the smell of gasoline was thick inside the cab. He called 911 to report the incident.
Talbert told investigators that he still owed a balance on his loan for the truck and that he used the vehicle for his flooring business. The estimated loss was $8,000.
The incident was listed as a burglary until Oct. 8 when Talbert was arrested for burglary and theft in Okaloosa County just a few days before. In a post arrest interview, investigators learned new information about the vehicle fire leading to an arrest warrant for arson and burning to defraud an insurer.
Talbert, who has a history of burglary charges, was arrested on arson and insurance fraud charges March 21.
