Deon Clayton, 27, was charged with first-degree theft, a Class C felony; interference with official acts causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor; and felony possession of a firearm, a Class D felony.

Officers were notified that the 2020 Mack Anthem, valued at over $120,000, was on the street driving Monday while it was supposed to be in the shop for repairs. A Prestage transportation manager, after receiving a notification of a hard brake, was able to see live video on his phone of the company’s semi being driven around 7:20 p.m. Using real-time GPS coordinates, the manager relayed the location of the truck to officers, who found it parked in the 100 block of North Eighth Street, unoccupied.

A criminal complaint said that Clayton eventually admitted to stealing the truck. Officers found the key to the semi in his backpack.

Before the arrest, officers said the defendant “decided to try and run” before being brought to the ground by arresting officers. The arresting officers also found a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum with ammunition in his backpack.

Officer Chris Weiland was injured in the arrest, sustaining some scrapes.

In a subsequent interview, the complaint details that Clayton said he “wanted to do something fun,” telling police that he was going to “get some drugs and commit suicide,” after the theft.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 6.