Suspect Hijacks City Vehicle, Crashes It, and Attacks Two Buckeye Officers

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — A morning incident involving a stolen truck led to the closure of Baseline Road as local police investigated. The road was blocked between 1st Avenue East and 1st Avenue West due to the ongoing inquiry.

According to Buckeye police, the disturbance began with a report of a man, identified as 39-year-old Jesse Wells, who allegedly stole a City of Buckeye truck from a job site near Baseline Road and Central Boulevard. Following the theft, Wells crashed the vehicle into an unoccupied car about a block away.

Witness Daniel Zuniga, working on a paint project for Roosevelt Irrigation District, described the moment of impact. “It was almost like an explosion,” he recounted, noting the parked truck was struck hard enough to push into his work vehicle. “I don’t know how fast he was coming; it could have been 100 miles per hour.”

As Wells attempted to flee the scene, a city worker intervened, detaining him until police arrived. During his arrest, police reported that Wells assaulted two officers, causing minor injuries. One officer required hospital treatment.

Zuniga expressed gratitude that no one was in the trucks that were hit. “I just want to thank God and everything for watching over me,” he said. “If I had waited by my truck any longer, my life could have been taken.”