Redlands Daily Facts
REDLANDS, Calif. — A 58-year-old man was arrested by Redlands police Friday after striking at least three vehicles in a stolen fire engine before trying to ram a responding police vehicle, according to a Redlands police news release.
John Hayes Waddell, a transient, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property. He is being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to police.
Police received the first call of a hit-and-run at Circle K, 765 W. Redlands Blvd., shortly after 4 a.m., according to police. The caller said he had been struck by a small fire truck.
Minutes later, police received a call of another vehicle that had been struck in a parking lot near Denny’s restaurant, 9 W. Redlands Blvd., according to police.
Police received a third call reporting that the fire truck was actively ramming a vehicle near the intersection of Nevada Street and Orange Tree Lane.
As police arrived on scene, the driver in the fire truck began driving directly at the police vehicle at a high rate of speed, according to police.
The officer was able to maneuver and avoid a collision before pulling the suspect over, according to police.
The vehicle was a San Bernardino County Fire Department brush engine that had been stolen earlier from Redlands Ford where it was being serviced.
A county fire battalion chief responded and took possession of the vehicle, according to police.
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