Missouri firefighter steals wallet from victim at scene of a car crash that killed four

A firefighter has admitted to stealing a victim's wallet after a car crash that killed fur people, pocketing the cash, and using his debit card.

Arnold Britt, 40, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and fraudulent use of the credit card on Monday, the St Louis County prosecutor's office said.

He asked Seven Robinson-Laney, 18, one of four injured in the crash about 1.30am on February 26, 2023, in St Louis, to give him the wallet for identification.

But he never returned it and instead stole the $674 cash and $200 in gift cards inside, then racked up $120 worth of charges on his debit card.

Seven Robinson-Laney, 18, one of four injured in the crash, gave a firefighter his wallet at the scene of a crash so he could be identified - but never got it back

Arnold Britt, 40, a former University of Missouri football player, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and fraudulent use of the credit card

The former University of Missouri football player was charged last October after a grand jury indicted him. 

Police reviewed bodycam and surveillance footage from the scene and three shops where Britt used the debit card.

He told police he used the card by accident, thinking it belonged to his wife, who used the same bank, and he planned to notify the card's owner.

Robinson-Laney said he had the cash and gift cards in his wallet because he just celebrated his birthday and was saving up to buy a car.

He was one of eight people in a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe that was knocked off an overpass and landed on its roof when a 2004 Chevrolet Impala drove into it.

Robinson-Laney was one of eight people in a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe that was knocked off an overpass and landed on its roof when a 2004 Chevrolet Impala drove into it

Richard Boyd, 19, Bryanna Dentman-Johnson, 18, Corntrail McKinley, 20, and Anthony Robinson, 19, all died in the Tahoe.

Robinson-Laney suffered a concussion and broken bones in the crash and said Britt asked for his wallet as he was waiting to be taken to hospital.

He got his ID back but not his wallet, and was taken to hospital without realizing he didn't still have it.

Still without his wallet 12 days later, he told police he thought a police officer took his wallet and he never got it back.

Police reviewed bodycam footage and saw a firefighter fitting the description Robinson-Laney gave them, speaking to him.

He asked where the wallet was, then took it out of Robinson-Laney's pocket and handed the ID to a police officer.

The footage then showed him put the wallet into his jacket pocket.

'That was crazy to me because it's like you don't really hear about firefighters doing stuff like that,' Robinson-Laney told KSDK. 

'It was pretty interesting to see because it was like you could literally see him look in the wallet and kind of like close it and put it to the side of his jacket.

'He never gave me my ID back, he gave me like my permit and everything he did was like this is not his first time doing this, it was just like this is what he does.'

Robinson-Laney suffered a concussion and broken bones in the crash and said Britt asked for his wallet as he was waiting to be taken to hospital

Surveillance footage then showed Britt's car arriving at three shops where the debit card was charged.

He spent $86.79 at Waterway carwash and $22 at the GRWC Brite Worx gas station nearby, then $12 at an Alta convenience store.

Police identified Britt by showing images from the footage to captains at his firehouse and questioned him.

He was placed on administrative leave, but allowed back on duty after the St Louis Circuit Attorney declined to press stealing charges.

The St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office responded by charging him instead, as though the wallet was stolen in the city, the debit card purchases were made in the county.

Prosecutors want Britt jailed for five years for the receiving stolen property charge, and one year for the fraudulent purchases.

Britt will be sentenced on September 6.