Thomas Reardon, 32, of 158 Larkin Pond Road, South Kingstown, R.I., was arrested Thursday by police in that town at the request of Westport police.
Reardon was sought after investigators were told he accepted over $15,000 to repair a pumper truck. He later returned the truck with the defective area disguised and no repairs done. The truck had been damaged during an August 2017 emergency call.
Reardon had charged $10,478 to repair and overhaul the kit, $375 in freight costs and $4,400 in labor costs after the the fire department sought to repair a water leak. After the truck was returned, fire department personnel noticed the truck was leaking worse. In December, Reardon came to the fire station to view the pumper and admitted he had not repaired the truck at all. Fire personnel noticed he had allegedly covered the area with fresh spray paint to disguise visible rusty bolts on the affected area.