FIRE ENGINE TAKEN ON JOYRIDE IN BOULDER, DAMAGED DURING CHASE

UPDATE

A thief - who, perhaps, had a blazing desire to be a firefighter - commandeered a Boulder fire engine and took it for a joyride early Wednesday.

Rescue Engine 143 was recovered at 1st Street and South Main Street in downtown in Longmont after a chase - and a suspect was taken into custody, Boulder police said. Police identified the suspect as Richmond Takashi Johnson, 35.

The engine crew was at the Boulder County Jail on a medical call when the suspect, who was just released from custody, hopped in the big red machine and drove off.

"The suspect was spotted at 34th Street and Valmont Road but refused to stop for law enforcement," police said. "He then drove south on Foothills Parkway before turning east on Arapahoe and then driving north on Highway 287.

"Longmont Police officers deployed stop sticks in multiple locations along Highway 287," deflating the engine's tires, police said.

A Boulder County sheriff's deputy suffered a minor injury during a foot pursuit. The engine sustained significant damage. Engine 143 is powered by electric batteries. Two sheriff's vehicles also sustained significant damage.

[Photos: Boulder Police]