Shocking! Northeast Fire Official Allegedly Driving a Stolen Car

By Chad Garrison on Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 10:00 am

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Robert Manuel photographed Saturday, moments before his arrest.

Pine Lawn police on Saturday arrested the assistant chief of the embattled Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District on suspicion of driving a stolen car.

The Post-Dispatch reports this morning that assistant chief Robert Manuel was pulled over around 9:30 on February 13 for expired registration on his 1995 Ford Crown Vic.

Turns out the car was reported stolen three years ago.

But that's not all...

The Post-Dispatch also reports that Manuel:

lacked proof of insurance
was and was driving with a suspended license
had a fraudulent Missouri license plate on the vehicle.

Last fall Manuel faced a demotion within the department for undisclosed "disciplinary charges." He escaped losing his title when the two-person board split on whether or not Manuel should be demoted.

Read more coverage of the Northeast Fire District here.