PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A Panama City Beach man is charged with stealing and setting fire to a truck.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle fire on Sunday at 8124 South Lagoon Drive at about 7:40 a.m. Deputies arrived to find a Chevrolet Colorado truck stuck in the sand on a vacant lot with smoke coming from the interior. It was determined the vehicle had been set on fire on purpose. Deputies also learned the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day from Camping World at 4100 W. 23rd St, Panama City.
Investigators were able to use security video from Camping World to help identify the suspect as Chase Allen Sellers. They also learned Sellers had been arrested on Monday by Panama City Police for armed robbery after being apprehended by a witness while trying to rob a Mr. Mart on West 11thStreet in Panama City.
After speaking with the inmate, investigators charged him with two counts of burglary, felony criminal mischief, arson and grand theft.
Investigators believe Sellers stole the truck and set fire to it when he became angry the cigarette lighter wouldn’t light his pipe. They also have charged Sellers with returning to Camping World a day after taking the vehicle and stealing a television.