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Police: Suspect Caught After Stealing Denver Water Tractor

DENVER (CBS4) - The tractor at the center of chase through downtown Denver Friday night actually belongs to Denver Water.

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(credit: Twitter/@gazucci)

The organization says it's working with police, but didn't expand on details as to how the tractor was stolen in the first place.

Police chased the tractor and its driver through the Ballpark Neighborhood near Park Avenue West and Walnut Street.

The tractor swerved in and out of a congested area. It finally came to a stop after a crash with a Denver police patrol car.

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"(I saw) a tractor, out of nowhere, in the middle of the road in Downtown Denver," said Marcos Willman, a witness.

Willman said a Denver police officer bravely turned to take the tractor head-on.

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"Without any hesitation, (the officers) went head-on in to the tractor," said Andre Soropeza, another witness. "He jumped out of his vehicle with the Taser gun pulled out, and shot the guy in the tractor."

"The officer that was in the driver side was out the door, and out with his Taser instantly," Willman said.

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Officials weren't clear whether the tractor hit any other vehicles, but say one of their K9's was used in the apprehension.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male, bald, with many tattoos.

"It was pretty crazy, man," Soropeza said. "I've never seen anything like that in my life."

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(credit: CBS)

Officials say two officers were hurt, but they were released from the hospital and are expected to be okay. Officials also say they won't release the suspect's identity until they perform suspect line-ups.

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