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Fuel thefts

Payne firefighter filled own vehicles

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A probationary volunteer firefighter with the Payne Fire Department was charged June 1 in McClain County District Court with embezzlement, a misdemeanor.

A security camera at the station showed Cody Murphy filling personal vehicles with the diesel and unleaded fuel intended for department vehicles.

Fire Chief David Miller reported the theft to the McClain County Sheriff’s Department  on April 13.

According to an affidavit, Miller noticed the gauge on the 500-gallon tank of red diesel showed less fuel than when it was checked on April 10.

All firefighters have access to the red diesel tank and a 500-gallon tank of unleaded gasoline, Miller reported.

The security camera on April 11 showed Murphy retrieve a key to the fuel pumps and proceed to pump diesel into his personal pickup.

According to the affidavit, Miller said it appeared between 1/8 and 1/16 of the tank capacity was missing. Fuel loss from the unleaded gasoline tank was approximately 1/16 of capacity.

When questioned by the deputy at the fire station on April 16, Cody reportedly admitted taking an estimated 31 to 62 gallons of diesel fuel on three occasions and approximately 31 gallons of unleaded gasoline on one.

He pumped all of the missing fuel into his personal vehicles, according to the affidavit.

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