Sylvie Willis
In 2019, two vans carrying diesel fuel were found in Maryland, one in downtown Baltimore and the other in Baltimore County. The first van, discovered in a parking garage, contained 80 gallons of diesel fuel and equipment to siphon fuel. The second van, found hours later, contained 660 gallons of diesel fuel and 68 Royal Farms gift cards. The driver of the second van, Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland, was arrested for a traffic violation and misuse of gift cards. Baltimore officials evacuated a four-block area around the T. Rowe Price building as a precaution, but no hazardous materials or terrorist activity was discovered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Vans | 2 |
| Location | Baltimore County, Baltimore City Parking Garage |
| Date | Monday, September 9, 2019 |
| Time | Around 11:00 a.m. |
| Van Type | 15-passenger van with blacked-out windows |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Fuel Quantity | 80 gallons (initially reported as 1000 gallons) |
| Suspect | Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland |
| Motive | Profit, theft |
| Arrest | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- A suspicious van with diesel fuel was found in a Baltimore City parking garage
- The van contained 80 gallons of diesel fuel and equipment to steal it
- The suspect, Tyrone Strickland, was arrested in Baltimore County
- Police suspected profit as the motive, not terrorism
- Downtown Baltimore was evacuated as a result
A suspicious van with diesel fuel was found in a Baltimore City parking garage
On Monday, September 9, 2019, a suspicious van with diesel fuel was found in a Baltimore City parking garage, prompting an investigation and evacuation of the area. The van, which was left in the garage, carried 80 gallons of diesel fuel in two containers, along with equipment used to siphon and steal the fuel.
The discovery of the van led to a large-scale response involving various law enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore Police Department, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Baltimore City Fire Department. A four-block radius around 100 East Pratt Street was evacuated, impacting several office and commercial buildings, including the T. Rowe Price building, The Gallery, hotels, and restaurants.
The investigation caused significant disruptions, with street closures and delays in the downtown area. Law enforcement officials worked to unravel the motives behind the suspicious van, with authorities suspecting profit as the primary motive. The driver of the van claimed to have recently rented it and was instructed by the owner to use gift cards to purchase fuel, raising questions about the involvement of the owner and the driver.
The incident in Baltimore City was not an isolated event, as another similar case was reported in Baltimore County. The two incidents shared striking similarities, leading authorities to investigate their potential connection. Baltimore County officials investigated a report of a suspicious van carrying more than 600 gallons of diesel fuel near White Marsh. An arrest was made in the Baltimore County case, with the suspect identified as Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland of La Plata.
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The van contained 80 gallons of diesel fuel and equipment to steal it
In September 2019, a van containing 80 gallons of diesel fuel and equipment to steal it was found in a Baltimore City parking garage in Maryland. The discovery of the van prompted an investigation by the police, who shut down streets and evacuated buildings in the area.
The van, which had blacked-out windows, was found to contain two bins of possibly stolen fuel. While several city officials initially estimated that the van contained approximately 1,000 gallons of gasoline, this was later corrected by a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment, who stated that about 80 gallons of diesel fuel was offloaded from the vehicle.
The investigation into the suspicious van led to the arrest of Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland, who was accused of a traffic violation and the misuse of a credit/gift card associated with the van. Strickland waived his right to a bail review. The motive behind the incident was suspected to be profit, as Strickland had used gift cards to purchase large quantities of diesel fuel, with more unused cards found in the van.
The case drew attention as it occurred shortly after a similar incident in downtown Baltimore, where another van carrying diesel fuel was found, leading to the evacuation of a large area of the city. The two cases were investigated as possibly being related. The van found in the Baltimore City parking garage was left in a city park garage and had equipment to siphon fuel for theft.
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The suspect, Tyrone Strickland, was arrested in Baltimore County
In September 2019, two vans carrying diesel fuel were found in Maryland, one in downtown Baltimore and the other in Baltimore County. The suspect, Tyrone Strickland, was arrested in Baltimore County. Strickland was accused of a traffic violation and the misuse of a credit/gift card associated with the van found in Baltimore County.
The van found in Baltimore County contained more than 600 gallons of diesel fuel, as well as unused gift cards. The suspect claimed that he had rented the van and that the owner had given him the gift cards to purchase fuel. The owner of the van denied any involvement.
The investigation in Baltimore County led to the identification of Strickland as the suspect, and he was arrested and waived his right to a bail review. The Baltimore County Police Officer, Jennifer Peach, commented on the suspicious nature of the case, given what was already happening in Baltimore City.
Baltimore County is a county in the state of Maryland and is the third-most populous county in the state, with a population of 854,535 as of the 2020 census. The county is part of the Central Maryland region and surrounds but does not include the independent city of Baltimore. It is home to several universities, including Towson University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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Police suspected profit as the motive, not terrorism
In 2019, two separate incidents involving vans with diesel fuel were reported in Maryland. The first incident occurred in September, when a van filled with containers of diesel fuel was found in a parking garage in downtown Baltimore, prompting evacuations and investigations by authorities. The second incident took place in December, also in Baltimore, and involved a similar scenario of a van loaded with diesel fuel in a parking garage.
While the details of the December incident are scarce, the September event caused quite a stir in the city. The discovery of the van loaded with diesel fuel led to a massive emergency response, with Baltimore police, fire investigators, and federal authorities involved. The area around the T. Rowe Price building, including neighboring towers and malls, was evacuated as a precaution.
The suspect in the September case, Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland, was arrested by Baltimore County Police. He was found with approximately 660 gallons of diesel fuel and 68 Royal Farms gift cards in his van. Strickland was charged with traffic violations, including driving with a revoked license, and five felony charges related to the misuse of gift cards.
Police suspected profit as the motive behind these incidents, rather than terrorism. Baltimore County Police spokesperson, Jennifer Peach, stated, "We don't believe there was any terrorist activity (that) was involved in this. We believe solely it was for the purpose of theft and profit." The driver of the van in the White Marsh case and the owner of the van pointed fingers at each other, with the driver claiming he had rented the van and was given gift cards by the owner to purchase fuel.
The investigation into these incidents continued, with authorities working to unravel the details and determine the extent of the fuel theft and profit schemes. The events caused concern and disruption in Baltimore, but the quick response of law enforcement and their thorough investigations helped ensure the safety of the public.
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Downtown Baltimore was evacuated as a result
On Monday, September 9, 2019, a suspicious van filled with containers of diesel fuel was found in a parking garage in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The discovery of the van prompted a large-scale emergency response and the evacuation of a four-block area in the city's downtown, including the T. Rowe Price building and the neighboring Transamerica tower and Gallery at Harborplace mall.
Baltimore Police and fire officials were alerted to the van by security personnel who smelled gasoline and noticed containers of diesel fuel inside the vehicle. The van, which had blacked-out windows and Pennsylvania license plates, was found to contain devices that could be hazardous and was suspected of being used for stealing diesel fuel. Initial reports suggested that the van contained approximately 1,000 gallons of gasoline, but later, it was confirmed that only about 80 gallons of diesel fuel were offloaded from the vehicle.
The investigation into the suspicious van caused significant disruption in downtown Baltimore, with streets shut down and buildings evacuated for hours. Authorities utilized a robot to enter the van and investigate its contents, discovering hoses and bins used for stealing diesel fuel. While the motive for the incident was suspected to be profit and theft, the owner of the van and their intentions remained unknown at the time.
The evacuation and investigation in downtown Baltimore were part of a series of similar incidents that unfolded in the city and the broader Maryland area. Baltimore County Police also investigated a separate case involving a van filled with diesel fuel in the White Marsh area. The driver of that van, identified as Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland, was arrested for a traffic violation and the misuse of gift cards to purchase large quantities of diesel fuel. Authorities investigated the potential connection between the two cases, suspecting a motive of theft and profit.
The discovery of the van in downtown Baltimore and the subsequent evacuation highlighted the swift response of emergency officials and their commitment to ensuring the safety of the city's residents and visitors. While the incident caused temporary disruptions, it demonstrated the effectiveness of the city's emergency protocols and the collaboration between various law enforcement agencies.
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Frequently asked questions
Two.
One van was found in a parking garage in downtown Baltimore, and the other was found in Baltimore County.
The quantity of diesel fuel in the vans is disputed. Some sources claim that there were 80 gallons of diesel fuel, while others claim that there were 1,000 gallons.
Yes, Tyrone Gerard Uyaha Strickland was arrested in connection to the van found in Baltimore County. He was charged with a traffic violation and the misuse of a credit/gift card associated with having a van with suspected stolen diesel fuel inside.
Authorities suspect that the motive was profit, specifically theft and resale of diesel fuel.
