Man charged after $100,000 worth of equipment stolen from Sampson fire station

FAISON, North Carolina — A man and several other people are accused of breaking into a Sampson County fire station and stealing $100,000 worth of equipment.

Amari Smith, 22, of Rose Hill, is charged with breaking and entering, theft and possession of stolen property after a break and enter was reported Tuesday at the Piney Grove Fire Department.

Deputies from the Sampson County Sheriff's Office went to the Goshen Church Road fire station on Thursday, where so much equipment was stolen that firefighters had to take an engine out of service and borrow equipment from other barracks to remain in operation, officials said. .

Investigators used surveillance video to identify Smith and three other suspects.

Officers with the Clinton Police Department arrested Smith, who was seen walking in a neighborhood. Smith was under house arrest, but his monitor had been disabled, the sheriff's office said.

Smith had outstanding arrest orders in Sampson County for possession of marijuana and sale and delivery of marijuana. He was charged on a Craven County warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon and other violations out of Pender County.

He was jailed without bail.

Investigators are working to recover the stolen property and identify and charge others involved in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 910-592-4141.