Man steals cherry picker with worker still in bucket

By Associated Press

Summary

A cable repairman fixing overhead lines in a cherry picker truck got a lift he wasn't expecting. Police said a Bakersfield man stole the Brighthouse Networks truck on Saturday while 50-year-old Curtis Bartell was elevated 25 feet in the air.

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Story Published: Jul 22, 2008 at 8:13 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 10:30 PM PST

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A cable repairman fixing overhead lines in a cherry picker truck got a lift he wasn't expecting. Police said a Bakersfield man stole the Brighthouse Networks truck on Saturday while 50-year-old Curtis Bartell was elevated 25 feet in the air.

The thief drove off, tearing down several phone lines before crashing into a utility pole. Police say Bartell did not suffer any major injuries.

Police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of hit-and-run, automobile theft and false imprisonment.

He fled the scene but was taken into custody Sunday morning.