4/29/25 Hot Springs, AR – Man Enters Fire Station – Steals Command Vehicle – 100 MPH Police Chase – Man Arrested

April 29, 2025

www.katv.com

A Hot Springs man is in custody after allegedly stealing a fire truck from the city’s Central Fire Station and leading police on a high-speed chase.

Fire Chief Ed Davis said the incident happened Monday evening when a man entered the station through the garage doors, began touching equipment, and eventually climbed into one of the vehicles.

“He sat in the seat of engine one. He obviously couldn’t figure out how to start that, it is kind of a complicated process actually,” Davis said.

The man then moved to a smaller fire vehicle. “Found a key in it and started it up, basically took it for a joyride through (North) Hot Springs and into Garland County,” Davis said.

The man police say is responsible for the so-called joyride is 37-year-old Ernest Bodiford from Hot Springs.

According to a police report, Bodiford led authorities on a chase in the stolen truck, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour with the emergency lights activated.

Bodiford now faces charges of theft of property, fleeing in a vehicle, and reckless driving.

KATV asked how someone was able to get in a truck that belonged to the fire department and drive off.

“The firefighters were not in the apparatus bay when they had the doors open. They were upstairs doing kind of a get-to-know-you with some of the people that are potential new hires for the fire department,” Davis said.

Davis said a firefighter should have been in the apparatus bay, and changes have been made to prevent something like this from happening again.

“We are changing the rules up to where the apparatus bay doors stay shut instead of open during the daytime. If they are going to be open, there has to be a firefighter in place out here in the apparatus bay,” Davis said.

Even with these new measures in place, Davis said this won’t prevent them from continuing to serve the community.

“There are bells on the outside of the station. They can press those bells and the firefighters will come and help them, or they can call 911; that is a sure way to get a firefighter to your scene,” Davis said.

Davis expressed relief that no one was hurt during the chase and hopes the man responsible for the theft receives the help he needs. The fire truck was returned without damage.

Bodiford’s court date is set for June 3.