INDIANAPOLIS -- A man is facing a felony count of auto theft after leading police on a chase in a stolen FedEx truck that began downtown and ended on the east side of Indianapolis last week.
Joshua Taylor, 36, has been preliminarily charged with a level 6 felony of auto theft and criminal mischief, which is a Class A misdemeanor charge.
According to court documents, officers were called on Aug. 1 around 1:30 p.m. to downtown Indianapolis near E. New York Street and N. College Avenue after receiving reports that a vehicle had been stolen in the area.
Officers arrived and spoke with the driver of a FedEx box truck who told them that the vehicle was stolen after they exited it to make a delivery. When the driver returned, they saw the FedEx truck was heading south on N. College Avenue.
Officers utilized GPS technology that showed the vehicle was pinging near the 6200 block of Commodore Drive. However, officers could not locate the stolen FedEx after arriving in the area.
Around 2:13 p.m., an officer in an unmarked police vehicle observed the FedEx truck driving eastbound on 30th Street before turning south toward the 2500 block of Arlington Avenue. Another officer in a fully marked police vehicle then arrived and began driving behind the stolen box truck.
During their pursuit, officers observed a man wearing a red hat, who was later identified as Taylor, operating the vehicle alongside a woman sitting in the passenger seat.
Officers tried to pull the truck over near the 2100 block of Catherwood Drive on the east side of Indianapolis. The vehicle pursuit soon concluded after Taylor drove the vehicle into a yard and exited while the vehicle was still moving. Taylor then allegedly began fleeing on foot.
Court documents allege that Taylor also dropped a green bag and keys belonging to the FedEx truck while running from police.
The woman also tried to escape but officers quickly apprehended her and she was arrested on an outstanding warrant, court documents said.
The FedEx truck eventually came to rest against a tree, causing "minor" damage to its front bumper.
The foot pursuit was short-lived as officers soon detained Taylor near some apartment complex buildings in the area.
Officers later determined that multiple packages inside the FedEx truck had been opened, court documents show. Taylor also allegedly disconnected the wires to the GPS and onboard surveillance cameras.
The FedEx truck is valued to be worth $15,000.
According to online court records, Taylor is set to appear for an initial hearing in Marion Superior Court 30 on Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m.