Alleged Thief of Firetruck Leads Police on Chase
A young man who allegedly stole a yellow firetruck in Seal Beach and led a caravan of police cars down Pacific Coast Highway on Monday night was arrested after police threw spiked strips across the highway and punctured a tire.
The chase began shortly after 9 p.m. when the unidentified man hopped into the firetruck, which was parked on the street while paramedics were administering aid to someone.
Seal Beach police chased the truck for about 20 minutes, joined by Huntington Beach police and police helicopters. The truck thief ran a red light at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, police said.
The chase ended between 5th and Main streets, near the Huntington Beach Pier, when the truck’s deflated tire began smoking and the thief slowly pulled over to the curb.
The unidentified man, about 18 to 20 years old, was arrested without incident.
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