NY Fire Chief's Vehicle Stolen During Call

May 28, 2019

The battalion vehicle for Buffalo was parked outside a hotel during a call when a man allegedly drove away in it before crashing into a parked Camaro.

By Jay Tokasz

Source The Buffalo News, N.Y.

A Buffalo man is accused of stealing a Buffalo fire chief’s battalion vehicle as firefighters responded early Saturday to an emergency call at the Buffalo Grand Hotel.

The Chevy Tahoe – painted bright red with markings indicating it is a Buffalo fire truck – was parked unlocked at 120 Church St. and running with its overhead lights flashing when Jakyle E. Foster, 23, allegedly took it for a ride.

Buffalo police caught Foster in the 200 block of Virginia Street, about eight minutes later. Officers found him parked in a driveway, where he had hit a 2001 Chevrolet Camaro also parked there. Foster appeared to be intoxicated, police said.

Foster was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors. He also was charged with second-degree harassment. Officers said he made repeated verbal threats while being arrested.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. as firefighters responded to a sprinkler malfunction in the hotel that caused an estimated $120,000 in damage to the building and contents.

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