Months after a fire engine went missing during a medical call and then smashed its way across north Everett, police say they finally know who was behind the wheel.
Everett police report they have identified a suspect in the July theft of a city fire engine after matching DNA recovered from the vehicle, according to the Everett Fire Department. The suspect, described as a man in his 30s, was already in custody in King County when detectives got the hit. Investigators have now sent a charging package to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The stolen rig, a 2018 Pierce Enforcer pumper, tore through parts of north Everett on July 18, 2025, plowing into parked cars along the way. Despite the chaos, no injuries were reported.
In a March 18 update, the Everett Fire Department publicly thanked Everett police “for their steady work and follow-through,” saying detectives used DNA from inside the engine to zero in on the suspect. The department said the case has been sent over with recommended charges of one count of theft of a motor vehicle, 12 counts of hit-and-run — unattended vehicle, and six counts of hit-and-run — unattended property.
Fire officials added that while the damaged pumper was being processed as evidence, a reserve apparatus was bumped into frontline service so emergency coverage in the city would not take a hit.
How The Late-Night Fire Engine Theft Unfolded
According to the City of Everett, the bizarre incident started late on July 18, 2025. Firefighters returned to their engine in the 2900 block of Hoyt Avenue after a medical call and found an empty spot where their 2018 Pierce Enforcer pumper was supposed to be.
Within minutes, 911 started getting reports of crashes along Hoyt Avenue and East Marine View Drive. The city’s summary lists the 2600 and 1300 blocks of Hoyt, the 500 block of Alverson and the 1000 block of East Marine View Drive among the places where parked cars and property were hit as the stolen engine rolled through.
Officials said the fire engine itself took significant damage and was pulled from service and impounded so investigators could comb through it, while a reserve engine handled calls.
Investigation Finds A DNA Link
Detectives say the break came from biological material recovered inside the stolen apparatus. That evidence produced a DNA profile that, according to police, matched the man now sitting in custody in King County.
Everett police have forwarded their findings and evidence to prosecutors for a formal charging decision. The department says the investigation is still active as detectives continue to process what they collected from the damaged rig.
Officials Respond
City leaders lined up to praise the work behind the scenes.
“I’m grateful to our Everett Police Department and partner agencies for their determined work identifying the suspect in this serious incident,” Mayor Cassie Franklin said in the department’s post.
Fire Chief Dave DeMarco added, “Taking a fire engine while our firefighters were responding to a medical emergency created a dangerous situation and caused significant damage,” and Police Chief Robert Goetz said the work “provided closure to a critical case and reinforced our commitment to accountability and justice,” per the Everett Fire Department.
What Happens Next
Detectives have submitted their reports and evidence to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which will now decide whether to file formal charges and what those should be. Prosecutors typically operate under a relatively short deadline to file after an arrest and review the strength of the evidence before locking in final counts, according to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Everett police are still looking for anything that might help them fill in the gaps, asking anyone with video or other information to call the department tip line at (425) 257-8450.
Why It Matters
Public safety officials say the wild fire engine theft was more than a one-night spectacle. The incident highlighted how quickly frontline equipment can be knocked out of action and how important it is to preserve every scrap of evidence when that happens. They also point to the case as an example of how forensic work can revive a complex investigation and carry it across the finish line.
The city has said it will review its policies around securing fire apparatus while the criminal case moves through the legal system.
Anyone with footage or tips about the July 18 incident is asked to contact the Everett Police tip line at (425) 257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. Officials have thanked neighbors who shared information during the months-long investigation, saying those details helped keep the case alive until the DNA results arrived.
