Western Coventry Volunteer Firefighter Charged With B&E

Officials from the Coventry Police Department and Western Coventry Fire District confirmed this week a recent batch of break-ins at the district's Greene Station on Hopkins Hollow Road.

According to WCFD Deputy Chief Kelly Guastini, the station was broken into on multiple occasions over the course of several months, with the first incident occurring on Saturday, March 30. Following the most recent burglary during the first week of June, Coventry Police placed security cameras within the station to catch the suspected thieves in action.

Guastini explained that after the June incident, one of the district's Komoto all-terrain vehicles was found parked outside of the station with a dead battery and some equipment, including several pick head axes, were found to be missing from the building. After monitoring the mileage on several vehicles at the station, it was discovered that a district pickup truck had also been taken out and sustained some damage.

Surveillance footage enabled police to identify three people — two juveniles and WCFD volunteer firefighter Cody Spink of Plainfield Pike in Coventry, who was 19 at the time. In the footage, Spink can be seen in the company of the two juveniles, leading officials to believe that he deliberately let them into the station. 

Coventry Police charged Spink with breaking and entering a public building with felony intent, two counts of breaking and entering a building with criminal intent and driving without consent of owner. 

"The police actually suspected that it was maybe someone from within, but I was in denial," said Guastini. "I kept saying 'Our people would never do that!', but I was wrong. Of course you don't have to break in when you have the door code."

Guastini, who prepared an impact statement for the courts, said the damaged vehicles and stolen equipment amounted to more than $7,300. WCFD officials have been successfully working with the district's insurance company to ensure the repair and replacement of all damaged and stolen equipment.

Apart from feeling disappointed and betrayed, members of the Western Coventry Fire District have expressed concern for their colleagues — the majority of whom volunteer their time to protect their community — when considering what could have happened had the thieves been armed and/or dangerous.

"It really put a lot of stress on our members because that's such a rural station and we've got dedicated staff that respond down there if we need a truck," said Guastini. "The potential for one of them to walk in while these individuals were there and catch them off guard…you don't know what they're capable of doing."

"The other aspect of it to consider is what if we had gotten a call where we needed the equipment that they had out out joy-riding in?" she continued. "It really is too bad."

On June 12, Spink was arraigned in Third District Court on one charge of felony breaking and entering with criminal intent. His case is currently in the felony screening process and if carried forward as a felony, will be transferred to Superior Court for further action. Whether the fire district will receive any restitution from Spink is unknown at this time. 

Check back with Coventry Patch for updates on this story as they become available.