A bizarre incident unfolded early Wednesday when a man allegedly took off in a fire truck parked outside a Colorado jail, shortly after being released, as reported by the Boulder Police Department (BPD).
The incident quickly escalated, leading to a multi-agency pursuit. Officers deployed tire-deflation devices on a highway to halt the vehicle, culminating in a brief chase on foot just outside Denver.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 33-year-old Richmond Takashi Johnson, noting that he has a “long criminal record.” Initially, he was arrested for third-degree trespassing before the fire truck theft occurred.
The theft resulted in substantial damage to the fire rescue engine and several vehicles from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, an officer sustained minor injuries during the chase.
A Boulder County Sheriff’s Office vehicle with flashing lights is pictured beside a fire truck on April 29, 2026. (City of Boulder)
The BPD reports that Johnson was first detained around midnight after they received complaints about a man attempting to open car and home doors in a neighborhood around 11:30 p.m.
After his release around 3:30 a.m., in accordance with Colorado statute, fire rescue crews arrived shortly thereafter in response to an unrelated medical call.
While crews were inside the jail booking lobby treating a patient, Johnson allegedly entered the fire engine and drove roughly 1 mile before being spotted by Boulder County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with Boulder police.
Johnson allegedly continued driving and refused to stop for law enforcement, eventually reaching a major interstate roughly 10 miles to the east.
An officer patrols outside the Boulder County jail June 5, 2025. (Chet Strange/AFP)
Police from the nearby suburb of Longmont were then called in to assist, deploying stop sticks at at least three locations along the highway.
Johnson subsequently lost control of the truck after its tires deflated and fled on foot.
“He then jumped out of Engine 143 and ran away,” police said. “Within minutes. he was arrested by Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies and Longmont Police officers.”
“Thankfully there were no serious injuries to any first responders or community members. However, a Boulder County Sheriff’s deputy sustained a minor injury from the foot pursuit of the suspect,” the department added.
Johnson was not injured during his arrest.
The Boulder Fire-Rescue Engine 143, one of the city’s electric RTX engines, was reportedly heavily damage and is being assessed by the city’s fleet division.
A Boulder Fire-Rescue truck sits disabled on a street April 29, 2026, after its tires were deflated during the incident. (City of Boulder)
Two Boulder County Sheriff’s Office vehicles were also damaged, while another sheriff’s unit had minor damage.
Johnson now faces nine new charges, including obstructing a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical service provider, rescue specialist or volunteer; two counts of felony motor vehicle theft; resisting arrest; reckless driving; felony criminal mischief involving damage to city property; felony vehicular eluding; reckless endangerment; and driving after revocation prohibited
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