Police said a man who was attempting to torch his own pickup truck drove away when officers caught him in the middle of the act, crashed into another vehicle and ended up smashing into a Riverside business.
It all began at about 4:30 a.m. in the downtown area around 10th and Chestnut streets, where firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle on fire, according to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.
Firefighters at the location saw a man leaving a pickup truck that had smoke coming out of it and called officers to the scene, Railsback said. When officers arrived, they tried to stop the man but he fled in the pickup truck — which was still emitting smoke — though he did not get too far, police said.
The suspect crashed into another vehicle and then into the front window of a business about two miles away near the intersection of Central and Magnolia avenues, according to Railsback.
Photos posted on social media suggest the business was a barbershop.
The suspect, who was not named, was arrested and taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the other vehicle also suffered minor injuries, was treated at a hospital and later released.
Once the suspect is medically cleared, Railsback said, he will be booked into jail on suspicion of arson and felony evading.