By Pat Reavy
Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A Salt Lake County Sheriff’s patrol car was stolen Wednesday night. Although it was abandoned shortly after and recovered, investigators Thursday continued to look for a computer and several other items taken from inside the vehicle.
Wednesday evening, 911 dispatchers received a call of a person having a medical problem inside Wal-Mart near 4600 South and 900 East. Two deputies and paramedics from Unified Fire Authority responded, said Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Don Hutson. All three vehicles parked along the curb next to the entrance of the store.
In his haste to get to the victim, one of the deputies left the keys to his marked patrol car in his vehicle. When he came out of the store 15 to 20 minutes later, his sport utility vehicle was gone.
Backup was called, and the vehicle was found a short time later abandoned in a residential area about two blocks away, Hutson said. Detectives believe a second person picked up the person who stole the patrol car.
A computer and other police items were taken, as well as some of the deputy’s personal items, Hutson said. No weapons were missing.
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