Gas-siphoning scheme leads to jury conviction

The jury didn't buy Chad Storey's tale of how he had set up an auxiliary pump to drain gas from junker cars.

By PAT PHEIFER, Star Tribune

Last update: June 3, 2009 - 7:22 PM

Chad M. Storey, accused of concocting an elaborate system to siphon gasoline from other vehicles into his own 4x4 pickup truck, was found guilty Wednesday by a Ramsey County jury.

Storey, 35, testified Tuesday that he'd bought a small agricultural pump at Mills Fleet Farm and rigged his truck with an auxiliary fuel pump and hose system -- as well as a cadre of other goodies -- so he could drain the gasoline from junker cars at a scrap yard. The jury didn't buy his explanation and convicted him of one count of possession of burglary or theft tools.

He will be sentenced July 17 by District Judge Michael Fetsch.

According to court documents and authorities, two sheriff's deputies came upon Storey in the pre-dawn hours of March 17, 2008, in the parking lot of an apartment building in Vadnais Heights. He was in the driver's seat of his shiny, red Dodge Ram, parked very close to a minivan.

The minivan's gas cap was open and deputies noticed the strong smell of gasoline. When Storey opened his door, the deputies found a hose running from under the floorboard and coiled on the passenger seat.

Authorities said Storey had devised a system that allowed him to pull up to another vehicle, stick the hose in its gas tank, flip a switch under his dashboard to activate an auxiliary pump, then sit and wait.

Storey said in court that he was waiting for an acquaintance who planned to join him on a "scrapping" expedition. The criminal complaint said the deputies confronted him with the fact that he was trying to stealing gas and Storey responded, "Yeah, but I didn't get any."

At the time, gas was selling for more than $3 a gallon.

The jury wasn't allowed to hear about Storey's history of drug, burglary and domestic assault charges. Although he has been free pending the trial, Fetsch ordered him taken into custody until sentencing.

Pat Pheifer • 612-741-4992

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