Police: Pickup burned for insurance money in Fairfield

Two men are accused by state police of conspiring to set a pickup truck on fire in Fairfield in August so one of them could collect insurance money and purchase a new vehicle, according to court papers.

Jerry A. Boring, 58, of Fairfield, got about $4,900 for his 1997 Dodge pickup from his insurance carrier after troopers said Allen K. Palmer, 35, of Fairfield, set it on fire, destroying it. Both men are charged with arson and conspiracy. Boring faces additional solicitation and false insurance claims counts.

Police said the truck was destroyed by fire Aug. 9 at the intersection of Creek Road and Corvi Street in Fairfield, just outside of Bolivar. That’s where Boring told police the pickup broke down after he performed repairs and took it for a test drive.

Boring said he was “tired of working on his vehicle” and asked Palmer to set it ablaze so he could collect insurance proceeds, according to court papers. Palmer told police he got a small road flare from Boring, lit it and put it underneath the seat around 1 a.m. The two men are neighbors and Palmer often helped Boring work on the pickup.

Boring received the cash and purchased a new vehicle, police said. Both suspects were arraigned Friday. They each are free on $10,000 unsecured bail. Neither man had an attorney listed in online court records.

Preliminary hearings are set for Nov. 4.