HOLLY HILL, Fla. – A Volusia County sheriff's cruiser was found torched early Friday behind a Holly Hill business, police said.
[LISTEN: 911 calls at bottom of story]
The Holly Hill Police Department said officers were called to AAMCO around 4:20 a.m. for a vehicle fire in a fenced compound behind the business.
Two vehicles, including the marked sheriff's cruiser, were fully engulfed in flames, and there was a strong odor of an accelerant, police said.
"Someone was walking by the area and saw the flames," said Capt. Brian Bosco with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
A man driving past the business called 911 to report the fire, as did another man, who apparently lived nearby or worked at the auto shop.
"Oh, my God, it is the sheriff's car! The sheriff's car is on fire," the caller told dispatchers. "Yes, I'm going to back up because I don't want it to blow up."
Holly Hill Police Department News Release: September 23, 2016 (Arson) The Holly Hill Police Department responded to...
Posted by Volusia Sheriff's Office on Friday, September 23, 2016
As the caller stayed on the line, firefighters quickly arrived to put out the flames.
"Oh, it's getting bad now," said the caller.
The fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters. The business was not damaged, police said.
Investigators returned to the scene Friday morning to take pictures of the damage and loaded up the torched cars onto the tow trucks. Authorities said they found a gas can nearby and believe not only was this act arson, but an act that was meant for them.
"We do have some information that we can't share at this moment that says that it was targeted to the law enforcement," said Bosco.
Both cars were a total loss. A third car was drenched in gasoline but never set on fire. AAMCO said it doesn't have security cameras but is working with law enforcement. They released the following statement:
“We are sorry to hear that a number of vehicles were damaged while in the possession of the local AAMCO repair center in Daytona Beach. While our local franchisee is cooperating fully with the authorities with respect to their ongoing investigation of the matter, he is unable to provide any insight into the cause of the incident which appears to be a random event. AAMCO of Daytona Beach will certainly reach out to any affected customers for assistance.”