JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department engineer has been charged with a misdemeanor count of petty theft after investigators said they confirmed he had stolen items from several Winn-Dixie stores -- sometimes while on duty.
According to his arrest report, the 51-year-old firefighter was found to have used the self-checkout at three separate Winn-Dixie stores 27 times from March 11 to July 18, stealing items each time.
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NOTE: News4JAX is not naming the firefighter because the charge is a misdemeanor.
According to the report, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was first contacted about the allegations on July 29 by a Region Asset Protection Manager for Winn-Dixie.
The detective investigating the incidents works with the Integrity Unit, which is mainly charged with investigating criminal allegations against city employees, including JFRD employees.
The investigator pointed out in the report that the firefighter used the self-checkout correctly on multiple items on each of the 27 visits to Winn-Dixie. But each time, some “consumable goods” were not paid for.
Sometimes the firefighter was on duty in uniform during the incidents, according to the report.
The total value of the stolen items was approximately $750, the report said.
The firefighter was arrested on Monday and was released on a bond of $3,503.
JFRD told News4JAX that the firefighter is currently suspended pending termination.
