District 1 chief comes across man on joyride with fire truck

When District 1 Fire Chief James Vandelinde saw one of his rescue units rolling down Bethel Road near Sylvest Road Thursday evening, he wondered what the heck was going on. The chief knew no fires had been reported. So he gave chase, caught up with the vehicle and pulled it over. And that’s when Vandelinde became even more suspicious. He did not recognize the driver, who was wearing a firefighter’s jacket and boots.

When he asked the man behind the wheel just what he thought he was doing, the man responded that he was “just driving around.” He added that he’d always wanted to be a fireman.

But he wasn’t. Vanderlinde called the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“We received the call at approximately 6:20 p.m.,” said WPSO Deputy Chief Shanon Lyons. “Responding deputies took the man into custody, and took him to the station where they discovered he had broken in and taken the truck for a joy ride without the consent or knowledge of the fire department.”

He reportedly left his own boots at the station when he donned the firefighters garb.

“Darrell Chaisson, 18, of Franklinton, was charged with burglary of a commercial building or business and with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle,” said Lyons. “They’re both felonies.”