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Generator Stolen From Fire Truck During Emergency In Garden Grove

GARDEN GROVE (AP) — Investigators say an Orange County man is in jail for stealing a generator from a fire truck while firefighters were nearby on an emergency call.

Garden Grove police Lt. David Kivler says 47-year-old Joe Gomez Jr. was walking near the fire truck parked outside Garden Grove Medical Center when he spotted the $1,500 generator through open doors on the fire truck.

Firefighters were investigating reports Monday of smoke inside the hospital's Medical Arts building.

The Orange County Register says surveillance video shows Gomez pulling up to the fire truck in his sport utility vehicle, grabbing the generator and driving away.

Gomez was arrested Wednesday at his Anaheim home and he was booked for investigation of grand theft and possession of stolen property. The generator was recovered.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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