[Ed. note: It was revealed in court during Fanning’s first appearance on Monday that he is an active duty Marine. The judge raised his bond; read the full followup report here.]
WILMINGTON — A U.S. Marine recruit from Texas faces nine charges after allegedly stealing a fire truck and leading law enforcement on a chase.
Michael Don Fanning, 20, was arrested early Sunday, May 17, around 4 a.m. He faces felony charges including fleeing/eluding arrest, larceny of motor vehicle, offering bribes and assault with a firearm or other deadly weapon upon governmental officers or employees, as well as misdemeanor charges including communicating threats and driving while impaired.
Arrest records indicate police attempted to pull over Fanning on Market Street as he fled from law enforcement in a 2024 Ford F350 firetruck. Upon being apprehended, court documents say he refused a breathalyzer test, attempted to offer officers $15,000 to release him from custody and assaulted one deputy.
Fanning will make his first appearance in court on Monday and is being held under a $50,000 bond.
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