California: Man steals firetruck, tries to ram cop car, police say
A 58-year-old transient man was arrested on suspicion of being in possesion of a stolen San Bernardino County Fire Department fire truck Friday, June 5, after he drove it into three vehicles in Redlands, Redlands Police officials said.
John Hayes Waddell, Police said, also tried to ram into a Redlands Police car before he surrendered to officers. Waddell was booked into Rancho Cucamonga's West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property.
The fire truck was stolen from Redlands Ford, where it was being serviced, about 4 a.m. Friday, according to a Police news release.
Waddell drove the truck to a Circle K at 765 W. Redlands Blvd. where he struck a car, the news release said, before taking off.
Matt Porterfield, assistant manager at the Circle K at Redlands Boulevard and Texas Street, said he saw the store's videotape of the incident.
The fire engine entered the parking lot off Redlands Boulevard and drove south through the lot. The engine hopped a curb about 5-7 mph and struck a customer's black Toyota. The driver of the engine gunned the gas to push the Toyota out of the way so the engine could proceed through the lot and exit onto Texas.
"He's crazy. This guy has no regard for anybody," Porterfield said.
After the hit-and-run was reported to Police, another was reported in the parking lot of the Denny's restaurant at 9 W. Redlands Blvd, the news release said. That's about half of a mile east of the Circle K.
Waddell rammed into a third car about three miles west of the Denny's, at the intersection of Nevada Street and Orange Tree Lane, the news release said.
When officers arrived on scene, the news release said, Waddell drove the fire truck directly at the Police car.
The officer was able to maneuver out of the way before pulling Waddell over and arresting him, the news release said.
Waddell remained in custody Friday with bail set at $50,000.
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