NORFOLK, Neb. — Authorities are investigating a fire that totaled a sheriff’s patrol vehicle.

It happened around 6:00 a.m. Friday in Norfolk’s Woodland Park neighborhood. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the vehicle was fully engulfed when law enforcement and firefighters arrived. Nobody was inside the car when the fire started.

Unger says the fire marshal and the sheriff’s office conducted preliminary investigations and determined the fire started in a nearby trash can and spread to the patrol car. According to Unger, the vehicle was recently purchased for $60,000 and had less than 1,500 miles on it.

“This is a big loss for taxpayers,” Unger said. “If it’s a crime, it’s frustrating.”

Unger says the preliminary investigation couldn’t determine what caused the initial fire, but said that arson is a possibility. The patrol car belonged to Chief Deputy Aaron Kleensang, who is running for sheriff.

Investigators will work on a full report on the incident over the next week.