A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer stopped a City of Compton fire truck on the 91 Freeway and discovered something unusual: a shirtless man behind the wheel who wasn’t supposed to be driving the fire truck.
The traffic stop happened Aug. 5 on westbound State Route 91, east of the 110 Freeway. CHP South Los Angeles said the fire truck caught the officer’s attention because it was being driven erratically.
The officer was on routine patrol and initiated an enforcement stop. Newly released video shows the driver climbing down from the cab before being taken into custody.
CHP said the man did not work for the Compton Fire Department. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, according to ABC7.
The Driver Climbed Out Without a Shirt
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The video shows the large red fire truck stopped ahead of the CHP patrol vehicle. A shirtless man steps down from the driver’s side and walks toward the officer.
The agency joked about the clip on social media and captioned the video, “No, this is not another GTA leak.” It added that the driver’s attempt to get away with the truck had failed.
The Truck Belongs to the Compton Fire Department
The vehicle belongs to the City of Compton Fire Department and is equipped as an emergency response vehicle. CHP confirmed that the man driving it was not employed by the department.
Neither CHP’s account nor ABC7’s report explains where the fire truck was taken. It is unclear whether it disappeared from a station, an emergency scene or another location and how long it had been gone.
CHP Has Not Identified the Driver
The driver was taken into custody on an alleged charge of possession of a stolen vehicle. CHP has not released the man’s name, age or booking information.
The agency also has not said whether anyone else may have been involved in taking the truck.