Stolen Truck Driver Nearly Crushes Cop, Rams Cruiser During Wild Car Wash Escape [WATCH]

A man accused of stealing a truck in Glendale was captured on camera taking the vehicle to a car wash to vacuum it before ramming a police cruiser while attempting to flee, according to the Glendale Police Department.

The incident began on Jan. 5, when the department’s Real Time Crime Center identified a stolen truck at a local car wash and alerted officers in the area.

Three officers responded and located the suspect vacuuming the interior of the stolen vehicle. As officers approached with weapons drawn, the situation escalated quickly.

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In body camera footage, an officer can be heard shouting, “Don’t go back in the car!”

Despite the warning, the suspect reentered the truck and accelerated, striking a Glendale police cruiser.

The impact nearly pinned one officer between two vehicles.

The stolen truck pushed the patrol car backward until enough space was created for the suspect to break free.

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He then drove away on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding other vehicles as he fled the scene.

Officer Moroni Mendez said the department’s Real Time Crime Center cameras were instrumental in tracking the suspect’s movements after the crash.

“He’s also driving down the road at a very high rate of speed, very recklessly… it was shortly after that, that he crashed through the gates of a church building and then abandoned the vehicle there,” Mendez said.

“There’s a playground there, there’s what any other church would have members and church goers attending, so thankfully nothing more than that happened.”

According to police, the suspect crashed through the gates of a church property before abandoning the stolen truck. Officers patrolling nearby later located the vehicle at the church.

Authorities did not report any injuries connected to the crash at the church property.

Mendez noted the presence of a playground and churchgoers in the area at the time of the incident.

The search for the suspect continued after he fled on foot.

Approximately one week later, officers located him again.

On Jan. 12, body camera footage from another officer shows law enforcement approaching the suspect. In the video, an officer can be heard saying, “turn around and walk backward toward me.”

The suspect, identified as John Graff, was taken into custody without incident.

Mendez said Graff later spoke with a detective about the events.

“He was later spoken to by that detective… and what she’s told us is he… didn’t mean to harm anyone, but he knows what he did was wrong and he was trying to get away because he had some drugs on him,” Mendez said.

Glendale police later commended the officers involved in the response.

In a statement, the department described their actions as “bravery and professionalism in a dangerous and fast-moving situation.”

Mendez added, “Great job in remaining calm and being able to respond appropriately, being able to be there for each other.”

Graff now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, theft, endangerment and criminal damage.

The Glendale Police Department credited its Real Time Crime Center with assisting officers in tracking the suspect from the initial sighting at the car wash through the crash at the church property and subsequent arrest.

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