INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 40-year-old man was detained Thursday after deputies said he fled the scene of a camper fire, crashed his van and stole two vehicles.
Timothy Patrick Ellison
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies arrested Timothy Patrick Ellison, of the 8900 block of 108th Avenue, Vero Beach, on a variety of charges including two counts of grand theft auto, three counts of burglary, burglary of an occupied dwelling, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and driving under the influence. Ellison was held Thursday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
A state fire marshal was called to the scene after firefighters suspected someone intentionally set the camper ablaze. Ellison has not been charged in connection with the fire.
A witness called Indian River County deputies about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, saying that a man had set a camper on fire before fleeing in a white van, sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said. The camper was located on Ellison’s property near his two-story home, but the residence was not damaged, deputies said.
Indian River County firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the flames within a couple minutes, Battalion Chief Jamie Coleman said. Coleman said the blaze left heavy smoke damage to the front of the camper and heavy fire damage to the rear.
There was nobody in the camper and no injuries were reported, Coleman said. Coleman noted the camper did not have electricity, prompting firefighters to suspect a possible arson case and to call the state fire marshal.
Deputies began searching for the white van that drove away from the area. The 911 caller gave deputies a description of the driver, later identified as Ellison.
Deputies found Ellison’s van abandoned in a pond near 106th Avenue, Flowers said. At some point after ditching his van, Ellison stole two vehicles and burglarized a home, deputies said.
Deputies then located Ellison walking in the area near a canal bank. Deputies arrested Ellison and took him to the county jail.
