Drunk, armed firefighter arrested following attempted robbery of sleeping trucker

A now-former firefighter was arrested on multiple charges on Sunday after attempting to break into the cab of a sleeping trucker. 

The incident occurred on the morning of February 7th in Franklin, Tennessee. 

According to WKRN News, a trucker was sleeping in his rig while parked at the TA truck stop off of Interstate 65 when a man attempted to break into his truck. The driver then shouted at the attempted burglar to leave and managed to take down the suspect’s license plate number and vehicle description before calling the police. 

As police were collecting a statement from the driver, a pickup matching the description given by the trucker drove by with its hazard lights on, so police stopped the vehicle and confronted the motorist. 

Investigating officers report that the motorist, 22-year-old Makinly Scott Arneson, exuded a strong odor of alcohol and exhibited watery eyes and unsteady balance at the time of the investigation. When asked to exit his vehicle, Arneson admitted that he was in possession of a firearm and had consumed three beers. Arneson also disclosed that he was a Firefighter with the Williamson County Rescue Squad.

Officers then removed a fully loaded pistol from Arneson’s hip and inspected the pickup, where they discovered a fully loaded rifle behind the driver’s seat and a 12 pack of beer. 

When asked why he was driving through the TA with his flashers on, he said: “Because there were a lot of people moving around the TA parking lot and he did not want to get hit.”

Arneson was then taken into custody, where it was discovered he had a previous DUI charge back when he was 18-years-old. 

Arneson has since been charged with a second DUI and possession of a weapon while intoxicated. He has been terminated from his position as a firefighter and was released on $12,500 bail. He is expected to return to court in May.  

The Williamson County Rescue Squad has not responded to inquiries as to how a person with a prior DUI conviction was able to secure a position as a firefighter.