Car Stolen; Burned When Lighter Sparks Stolen Gas In The Backseat

July 18, 2014

A Century man has been charged with stealing a car that was accidentally burned after an occupant used a cigarette lighter to illuminate the passenger compartment, which contained a stolen gas can.

Joshua Jackson Grimes, 31, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied structure and second degree petit theft.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Grimes took a 2003 Hyundai Sonata without permission from a female on Tedder Road. Grimes allegedly drove to Wallace, AL, where he pickup up a teen male, the two of them riding around until the vehicle ran out of gas after dark. Grimes then reportedly stole a gas can containing about four gallons of gas from the carport of a residence on Highway 168.

The teen said Grimes poured a “little bit” of gas into the vehicle to get the pair out of the area and then placed the gas can in the backseat of the vehicle.

A short time later, the teen used a cigarette lighter to illuminate  the inside of the vehicle, igniting the gas can and inside of the vehicle. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a vehicle fire with a possible burn victim on Highway 168, but the vehicle was gone by the time firefighters arrived.

Grimes allegedly drove the vehicle to his home on nearby Wawbeek Road until morning and then returned the burned vehicle back to the owner’s home after daylight. According to deputies, the vehicle was charred on the inside, with a melted five-gallon gas can and a melted ice chest in the backseat.

The teen male was found to have suffered burns during the incident, and the case was referred to the Department of Children and Families for further investigation.

Grimes remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday without bond due to an outstanding failure to appear warrant in battery case.

Comments

10 Responses to “Car Stolen; Burned When Lighter Sparks Stolen Gas In The Backseat”

  1. DL Hall "Chrome" on July 20th, 2014 8:02 am

    Will we get to see this on “America’s Dumbest Criminals” …

  2. Anne on July 19th, 2014 2:26 pm

    The God Lord gave them another chance , I hope they both use it to straighten out.

  3. missysmom on July 19th, 2014 10:57 am

    “Here’s Your Sign”. :)

  4. Name (required) on July 18th, 2014 5:39 pm

    Is it just me, or does this remind anyone of a “Cheech and Chong” movie?

    “Hey man, where is my stuff? It is dark in here”…

    …”I think it is back there by the gas can”

    “Hey thanks man, ok… NO! Don’t light that!”

    What a crazy story, how would you like to lend this guy your car?

    “But the last time you borrowed it, you brought it back all burned up! “

  5. Jackson moore on July 18th, 2014 5:16 pm

    That’s my stupid cuzzin

  6. mick on July 18th, 2014 4:48 pm

    A few 3rd degree burns may have put an end to the two criminal idiots

  7. JR on July 18th, 2014 1:03 pm

    You just can not fix stupid.

  8. Terri Sanders on July 18th, 2014 10:27 am

    They are both lucky to be alive!!!

  9. Gembeaux on July 18th, 2014 8:05 am

    Mike, with the way these two were operating, they probably thought they should save a little, in case they ran out again…

    BTW, styrofoam + gasoline = poor man’s napalm. That teen could have been really done in. Praying for a “wake-up” for these two.

  10. Mike on July 18th, 2014 4:28 am

    A coupla real brainiacs right there! :)

    Too bad about the young lady’s vehicle though. :(

    Makes one wonder what the intention was about saving the remainder of the gas can’s contents.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News