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Tampa, FL - A Tampa man was taken into custody Tuesday morning after allegedly stealing a fire truck outside St. Joseph’s Hospital and colliding with another vehicle.
The Tampa Police Department identified the suspect as 59-year-old Warren Scudder.
Officers said Scudder allegedly took the fire engine while firefighters were inside the hospital at around 9:25 a.m.
Scudder then drove the vehicle and struck a gray Lexus SUV near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and MacDill Avenue.
The driver of the Lexus was transported to a hospital for evaluation following the crash.
No serious injuries were reported from the incident.
Tampa Fire Rescue confirmed that none of its personnel were injured during the event.
Police located the stolen fire truck at approximately 9:38 a.m. on the 4100 block of Poplar Avenue.
Officers blocked the truck’s path and took Scudder into custody without further incident.
He was charged with grand theft auto and leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and additional charges may be pending.
Tampa Fire Rescue Fire Chief Barbara Tripp said the department prioritized the safety of its personnel, patients, and the community and expressed appreciation for the police department’s rapid response.
Authorities noted that Scudder has a prior criminal record, including arrests in Pinellas County for incidents such as bomb threats.
He was released from prison in April 2024 after serving a sentence related to a 2020 bomb threat at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater.
The investigation into Tuesday’s incident remains ongoing.