Plague of nails in fire truck tires was retribution for 72-year-old, FL cops say

A 72-year-old man has been identified as the “Nail Bandit” responsible for tossing sharp objects in the path of fire and rescue vehicles headed to emergencies, Florida investigators say.

John Allan Starnes faces “multiple felonies” in the case, which involved “repeated acts of sabotage targeting Okeechobee County Fire Rescue Station 1 and the Emergency Operations Center,” the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 10 news release.

“Over the past 19 months, sharp objects — including nails and modified wire wheels — were intentionally thrown behind fire rescue vehicles and emergency access points,” the sheriff’s office said.

“These actions caused tire damage and endangered fire personnel and the public they serve, potentially delaying emergency response.”

A team began investigating the incidents in April and six other occurrences were documented in the months since, officials said.

“After weeks of surveillance, deputies witnessed Starnes commit the act in real-time during the early hours of July 10. Following a traffic stop, Starnes confessed to all six documented incidents (occurring since April),” the sheriff’s office said. “He was arrested and charged with multiple felonies.”

Evidence found during his arrest includes a collection of nails, screws and sharp objects that could be used to puncture tires, officials said.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel E. Stephen noted at a press conference that targets over the 19 months included emergency response vehicles and privately owned vehicles parked at county facilities.

Punctured tires are potentially deadly for first responders, who frequently drive at high speeds to fires, crashes and medical emergencies, Stephen said.

Starnes “has a beef” with Okeechobee County Fire Rescue and the Okeechobee County Commission, and resorted to handling the situation by tampering with the vehicles of first responders, the sheriff said.

Details of Starnes’ alleged grievance were not released.

“Tampering with fire rescue vehicles is not just criminal — it endangers every resident of this county,” Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief said in the release.

Starnes has been charged with preventing or hindering a firefighter from fulfilling duties, and criminal conspiracy to commit a felony, officials said.

The county’s fire department is based in Okeechobee, which is about a 110-mile drive southeast from Orlando.

This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 7:31 AM with the headline "Plague of nails in fire truck tires was retribution for 72-year-old, FL cops say."