Two runaway juveniles steal fire truck; are arrested

Two 17 year old boys who ran away from Camp Sawyer on West Summerland Key early Monday were caught in a stolen fire truck just hours later, as they attempted to flee the Florida Keys.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to Camp Sawyer on West Summerland Key at 4 a.m. Monday. Counselors at the camp wanted to report the two boys missing. Steven Barron and Joshua Ryan are both from a school in Pennsylvania called “Outward In”. They were at the camp attending a juvenile diversion program for troubled juveniles. They had gone missing from their tent at the camp. A report was taken and a notice to be on the lookout was issued for the boys.

At 8 a.m., deputies were called back to the camp. A bright red 2006 Chevrolet truck belonging to the Big Pine Key Fire Department had been stolen from the camp, where it was parked overnight. Responding Deputy David Chavka realized the likelihood that the missing boys had taken it, so they immediately issued a notice to be on the lookout for the truck.

Deputy Sever Hustad was at the 105 mile marker of the highway and the truck had just passed his location. He radioed ahead to the Florida Highway Patrol to keep an eye out for the truck. FHP pulled the truck over at the 125 mile marker of the highway, arresting the two boys for grand theft auto.

The truck, which had evidence of fresh damage on the right rear of the vehicle, was returned to the fire department.