Ariz. carjacker's crime spree starts with pitchfork, ends with crash, say cops

(CBS) TUCSON, Ariz. - Police arrested 27-year-old  Derrick Nelson  for allegedly using a pitchfork to carjack a city work truck Monday and initiating a crime spree throughout Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star reports.

Deputy Renee Carlson said Nelson was booked into Pima County jail on suspicion of numerous felony charges after being connected to two vehicle thefts, a robbery and an attempted robbery.

Sgt. Chris Widmer of the Tucson Police Department said Nelson approached a Parks and Recreation department worker who was sitting inside a city of Tucson truck parked near East 25th Street and South Dodge Boulevard on Monday afternoon. Nelson grabbed a pitchfork that was attached to the truck and threatened the worker, Widmer said.

Nelson took off in the vehicle and headed toward the south side, where he crashed into another vehicle at a Chevron gas station at East Irvington and South Palo Verde roads, Carlson said.

When the woman who was driving the other vehicle attempted to talk to Nelson about the crash, he allegedly robbed her and took her money. He then fled to the northwest side, near West Orange Grove and North Shannon roads, where he ditched the city truck and stole a construction vehicle, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Nelson then went to an acquaintance's house and attempted to rob the occupants of their cellphones and money, without success, the newspaper reported.

As he was leaving the home, Nelson rammed into a Shefiff's Department patrol vehicle and was taken into custody after additional officers responded to the scene. The patrol vehicle belonged to a deputy who was looking for the stolen construction truck.