ROSEVILLE-
A Sacramento City firefighter and paramedic, 30-year-old Craig White, spent the night behind bars, facing five counts of burglary, and three counts of elder abuse.
Citrus Heights Police arrested White Saturday afternoon. He’s accused of going door to door at a mobile home park, offering to help seniors with their smoke detectors, then stealing from some of them.
Sunday, FOX40 went to White’s Roseville neighborhood. No one opened the door for us at his home, but neighbors said they were surprised by the arrest.
“It’s crazy that a firefighter would do something like that, it’s one of the people you trust. It’s sad,” Bill Knolla told FOX40.
An older couple living across the street from White’s home said White has knocked on their door offering to help change light bulbs. They say he never seemed suspicious and never stole anything.
White has been a Sacramento City firefighter and paramedic for three years. His father is currently a captain within the department.
The fire chief, who is not a relation of Craig White, says the 30-year-old has never been in trouble at work and his arrest was a shock.
“I was both a little mystified and disappointed. The individual in question is a member in good standing,” Chief Walt White said during a Sunday press conference.
Craig White declined an interview with FOX40 from the Sacramento County Jail.
The Fire Chief insists this is an isolated incident. He is focused on regaining the public’s faith in the department.
“We are here to save lives, protect property and the environment and that we honor the public trust and we value it and we’ll do everything we can to maintain it,” Chief White said.
The Citrus Heights Police Department is investigating the case. The fire department is conducting its own internal investigation.
Craig White is on paid administrative leave pending the investigations.
He will be in court on December 9.
