GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Gary Johnson was arrested Wednesday after reportedly stealing a car because he missed the bus while trying to get to a friend’s house.
No, we’re not talking about Libertarian Party candidate who ran for president in the Nov. 8 General Election.
Grand Junction resident Gary Johnson, 58, was arrested Wednesday evening after he crashed a car he reportedly stole shortly after 7 p.m. in the area of El Corona Drive and Patterson Road, Grand Junction police said.
Officers who responded to the report of a stolen vehicle were told by the victim he left his vehicle unlocked and unattended for only a few short minutes with the push button start key fob inside.
To make matters worse, the theft victim told police there were multiple guns inside the stolen vehicle.
At about the same time, Grand Junction police got reports that a car crash had occurred not even a quarter-of-a-mile from where the vehicle was reported stolen.
Dispatch was able to confirm that the description of that vehicle matched the stolen vehicle and police went to check it out.
A witness told police they saw a man ran from the scene of the crash and with the help of a K9, officers with the Fruita Police Department responded and were able to track the suspect who was hiding in some bushes.
Johnson was eventually taken into custody and the keys to the stolen vehicle were found in one of the pockets of his pants, according to a Grand Junction police spokesperson.
Johnson was arrested on charges of first-degree motor vehicle theft, driving while restrained and for obstructing police.
The suspect, who has three prior alcohol convictions, was wanted on a felony warrant for failure to comply with a felony DUI charge, the police spokesperson said.
“While en route to the Mesa County Jail, Johnson stated that the only reason he stole the vehicle was because he missed the bus while trying to get to a friend’s house,” police said.
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