A late-night street-cleaning run in Northwest D.C. turned into a bizarre vehicle-theft investigation early Tuesday, after a man allegedly entered a city street sweeper and drove away while its operator fled. Police arrested a suspect minutes later, and the heavy vehicle was recovered before it could make a very long escape.
The operator was working in an Elgin street sweeper for the D.C. Department of Public Works when the man entered near 3rd Street and Florida Avenue NW, according to WJLA. The driver told officers he feared for his life, exited the machine and watched as the suspect took control of it around 1:37 a.m.
The vehicle was being used during the District’s street-cleaning season. In a February notice, the D.C. Department of Public Works said posted residential sweeping runs from March 2 through Oct. 30 and that its signed street-sweeping program removes more than 2,000 tons of debris annually.
Street Sweeper Recovered Near Rhode Island Avenue NW
Police said officers responded within minutes and detained the suspect. The sweeper was recovered in the 400 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW, and an MPD spokesperson told WJLA that the case was closed with the suspect’s arrest. The report did not identify the suspect or list any charges.
