By Shawn Henry 
A 31-year-old Jacksonville man is in deep trouble after cops say he torched his own place, then swiped a fire truck that rolled up to put out the flames. Anthony Biz isn’t going anywhere fast; he’s cooling his heels in Onslow County lockup with no chance of bail.
Firefighters raced to Nelson Drive just past 3 p.m. Saturday, only to find the house engulfed. Paperwork reveals Biz owned the home and allegedly lit the match himself, dead-set on seeing it reduced to ashes. Miraculously, nobody got hurt—not a single resident or responder.
But here’s where things get wild. While crews battled the blaze, someone noticed a battalion command vehicle had vanished. Turns out, Biz allegedly snatched the city-owned ride when firefighters were too busy to notice. Cue the regional manhunt. Pender County dispatchers eventually pinged Jacksonville authorities: the stolen truck was ditched along NC Highway 50.
Charges? Authorities have charged Biz with fraudulently burning a dwelling, larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and unauthorized burning. Officials did not release additional details about the condition of the home or the fire department vehicle once it was recovered.
Biz faces a judge Monday. Meanwhile, Jacksonville cops are hungry for tips. The whole mess remains under the microscope as investigators untangle how a house fire turned into a joyride for the ages.
This case is still awaiting trial, and all parties are innocent unless proven guilty.
Source
Eve