By Laura French
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Colorado police say a man stole a fire department truck while receiving medical assistance on Sunday.
South Adams County Fire Department personnel responded to the medical call at a grocery store where the man, identified by police as Jeremy Brandon Chavez, 41, reportedly said he was having trouble breathing, according to 9NEWS.
While personnel were evaluating Chavez, he allegedly walked away, got into a fire department response vehicle and drove off, according to police.
Commerce City police officers pursued the truck and used stop sticks to bring it to a halt, officials said. Chavez then allegedly abandoned the truck and attempted to pull a woman out of a car stopped at an intersection, police said.
Officers managed to stop Chavez from taking the car and arrested him, officials said. He is charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, attempted strong-arm robbery and vehicular eluding.