INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — He wasn’t planning on putting out a fire.
Aaron Michael Parmeter
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
That’s what deputies said of Aaron Michael Parmeter, who they said broke a cabinet and stole a fire extinguisher from an emergency room building. The reason for the theft was unclear.
Deputies arrested Parmeter, 32, described as homeless, on charges of grand theft of fire extinguisher, trespass, criminal mischief and resisting arrest without violence. Parmeter was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail on $5,000 bond.
Indian River County deputies responded to reports of trespassing about 10 p.m. Wednesday at the Vero Beach emergency room, a new facility owned by Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce.
The new building is located at 660 S. U.S. 1.
A security officer told deputies Parmeter was requesting stronger medication and would not leave the emergency room. Deputies ordered Parmeter to leave several times, reports show.
Parmeter left the facility, but then returned one minute later. Parmeter left again and came back to the south side of the building.
As deputies approached Parmeter, they noticed he was standing in front of a surface mount fire extinguisher cabinet, reports show. Parmeter looked at the deputies and then began running south.
Deputies noticed the glass on the fire extinguisher case was smashed out, leaving $200 in damages, reports show. Deputies chased Parmeter and detained him.
Deputies searched Parmeter’s backpack and found the Badger fire extinguisher inside, reports show.
Deputies arrested Parmeter and took him to the county jail. Parmeter has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. March 6, court records show.