City of Alcoa police officers have recovered items stolen from an Alcoa fire station and a Maryville man has been charged with the theft.

Michael T. Green, 32, Middlesettlements Road, Maryville, was charged by Alcoa police detectives on Sunday, Oct. 18 with theft of property greater than $1,000. Green was free from the Blount County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Officers responded on Saturday, Oct. 10 to Alcoa Fire Department Station 3, 3545 Central Park Blvd., Alcoa, to the report of a theft. During a shift change, firefighters discovered that someone had entered the station’s bay and stole firefighter equipment sometime during the morning hours. One of the firefighters reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area at about 6:15 a.m.

On Friday, Oct. 16, patrol officers responded to the report of a suspicious man driving a white van in the area of the fire station on Central Park Boulevard. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a man, matching the description of the driver, walking away from the area. The man was held for questioning and his van was found a short time later between tractor trailers in a nearby business parking lot.

“Upon approaching, officers could see items that appeared to be fire equipment inside of the van,” Detective Sgt. Terry McGill said.

A search warrant was obtained and several pieces of Alcoa fire equipment were found in the van. They recovered a helmet, jacket, pants, boots, tools and other items, worth a total of about $2,570. Detectives are still searching for a pair of firefighter boots, three pairs of gloves and a personal rescue device.