Two men were arrested in Harlan County Friday for stealing what they thought was scrap metal from the Harlan County Rescue Squad.

The two suspects told us from jail this was all a big misunderstanding. They said the property that was taken, was in the ditch line.

Ricky Adkins, Junior said he is not a thief.

"I don't run around stealing. I work and take care of my family," said Adkins.

But authorities said Friday, Adkins and Deryan Caldwell allegedly took fan enclosures from behind the Harlan County Rescue Squad building.

"We've got a speed bump here, and when they hit it, they made everything rattle in the truck," said Willie Galloway, with the Harlan County Rescue Squad.

A member of the squad who lives across the street heard the commotion and chased the pair down Highway 119.

The pair stopped and came clean.

"The State Police and Sheriff's Office came, and we were called to identify the stuff. They admitted to stealing it in front of us," said Galloway.

Deryan Caldwell says it's all a mistake.

"We didn't get the stuff that was any good. It was junk," said Caldwell.

"We didn't have any idea it was the rescue squad's property or metal or anything," said Adkins.

Both tell us they are honest men.

"The guy came out running, like come here, so I had Deryan turn around and go back," said Adkins.

Both plan to fight the charges.

Meanwhile, the rescue squad has installed cameras to prevent something like this from happening again.

The two are facing theft by unlawful taking charges, which is a felony. They are both being held in the Harlan County Detention Center on $5,000 each.