LEONARDTOWN — The 1987 fire engine that turned up smoking on the shoulder of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville on Monday was a retired piece of the Brandywine volunteer fire department’s history, and the department says the way it was driven could have ended in tragedy.
A 28-year-old Mechanicsville man, Zachery Andrew Talbert, faces three charges, including felony theft, after St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the stolen engine near Three Notch Road and Friendship School Road on Nov. 2, according to a sheriff’s office news release issued Nov. 4. The release says Talbert identified himself as the operator when deputies arrived.
In an official statement, the Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine, Inc. said the engine has been retired from active service but remains the department’s property and represents nearly four decades of its service to the community. The department said it is “deeply troubled by the reckless actions that followed” the theft.
A chase relayed by a witness
According to the department, a concerned citizen followed the stolen engine while relaying its location to law enforcement. The sheriff’s office said deputies responded after a witness reported seeing the engine in St. Mary’s County. The department thanked the sheriff’s office, Maryland State Police and other officers involved in the recovery, and reminded the public that personal safety should come first in situations like this.
A public post and video on the Facebook page Øliver Seven Garden, which follows local emergency calls, adds detail from the 911 calls. According to the post, police were sent to the Three Notch and Friendship School roads area at about 5:10 p.m. for a suspicious incident and possible stolen vehicle. Callers reported that a man in overalls got out of the smoking truck after it stopped on the shoulder of Three Notch Road and walked into a nearby wooded area, the post says. Witnesses had also reported the truck being driven at high speed on Mechanicsville Road earlier that afternoon, and deputies detained a man at the scene, according to the post.
The sheriff’s office said the engine was damaged, with fluid found throughout the engine compartment and on the roadway. The Facebook post identifies the truck as a Hahn HCP-15 designated Engine 401.
‘Disappointing and infuriating’
The department said driving a large, heavy emergency vehicle irresponsibly on public roads endangered motorists, pedestrians and the public, and that what began as a property theft could easily have turned out far worse. Retirement does not lessen the engine’s historical or sentimental value, the department said, calling it “both disappointing and infuriating” to see a truck that served the community for decades treated that way.
The department is evaluating the engine’s condition and assessing the damage, and said it intends to pursue all appropriate avenues to hold those responsible accountable and recover its losses. Citing the active investigation, it declined to speculate further on the circumstances.
The charges and what they carry
Talbert is charged with three offenses under the Maryland Criminal Law Article. The release does not list a court date or bond status.
- Theft of $25,000 to less than $100,000 (Section 7-104): a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
- Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (Section 7-105): a felony carrying up to five years and a $5,000 fine. A conviction would merge with a theft conviction for sentencing if both stem from the same act.
- Malicious destruction of property (Section 6-301): up to three years and a $2,500 fine if the damage is $1,000 or more, or up to 60 days and $500 if it is less.
The theft charge’s value bracket places the engine between $25,000 and $100,000. Neither the sheriff’s office nor the department gave a specific value or repair estimate, and neither has said how or when the engine was taken from Brandywine, in southern Prince George’s County. No injuries were reported.
Charges are accusations, and Talbert is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Update, Nov. 4, 2026: This article has been updated with information from an official statement issued by the Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine, Inc., including the engine’s ownership and retired status, a citizen’s role in tracking it and the department’s response.
Anyone with information can contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008.
