Police say the suspect took a Boulder Fire-Rescue engine minutes after his release and fled before being slowed down by stop sticks

BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder police say a man released from the Boulder County Jail on April 29 stole a Boulder Fire-Rescue engine and led officers on a pursuit.

Officers first responded around 11:32 p.m. on April 28 to the 4500 block of 19th Street after reports of a man trying to open doors of homes and cars, 9News reported. Police said 33-year-old Richmond Takashi Johnson was taken into custody around midnight.

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Johnson was booked into the Boulder County Jail and released just after 3:30 a.m.

Around 3:39 a.m., Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to an unrelated medical call at the jail, police said. While crews were inside, Johnson allegedly got into their fire engine and drove away.

Deputies pursued the stolen fire engine as it fled through Boulder and north on Highway 287, where Longmont police deployed stop sticks.

Police said Johnson lost control of the engine in Longmont, then ran from the vehicle before officers and deputies arrested him nearby.

Police said the stolen fire engine, Engine 143, one of Boulder’s electric RTX fire engines, sustained significant damage.

Johnson was booked into the Boulder County Jail on several charges, including felony motor vehicle theft, felony criminal mischief, vehicular eluding, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment.

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