Associated Press
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Police in Olympia say a man stole a marked Olympia Fire Department SUV and took it on a joyride that ended in a police pursuit and a crash of the $50,000 vehicle.
The Olympian reported that Sgt. Aaron Jelcick said a 26-year-old man was held Wednesday at the Thurston County Jail for investigation of motor vehicle theft, eluding a police vehicle and malicious mischief.
Assistant Fire Chief Pat Dale says a fire battalion chief had parked the SUV briefly at fire department headquarters late Tuesday night after he and other firefighters responded to a fire. Dale says the keys were in it.
A Tumwater officer spotted the stolen vehicle speeding past and a chase ensued with police from multiple jurisdictions joining in. Officers eventually used a spike strip to disable the SUV, which was badly damaged.
