There can’t be many things worse than having your prized classic muscle car stolen from right underneath your nose, but an unnamed Chevelle owner is dealing with that and more this week after police detained the thief they believe to be responsible on Monday. While the suspect is now in custody, the ‘70 Chevelle SS is in a less than pristine condition after police say the thief was driving erratically, refused to pull over and only stopped after crashing into two other vehicles. Check out the breaking news story from KSL news above.

Few people would be able to miss a bright red Chevelle SS thundering down the road, but South Salt Lake City police say that the suspect arrested on Monday caught their eye for more than just the nice car he was driving. According to police spokesman Gary Keller, police started following the man after he nearly missed hitting another car as he was making a left-hand turn. While one police officer followed the driver into a parking lot and tried to block him in, the driver of the classic muscle car proceeded to throw the car in reverse, hitting the officer’s car and another car before fleeing.

The driver then traveled through another parking lot, nearly hitting another police car before heading to the street. The police pursuit was called off after the driver to the Chevelle started driving into oncoming traffic, but he didn’t get far. After the pursuit was called off, one officer was able to watch as the Chevelle struck two other cars. The driver then got out of the car and fled on foot, only to be detained in a nearby neighborhood.

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A firearm can be seen stuffed next to the driver seat in the Chevelle that police say was stolen from Naples, Utah before being involved in a police chase and crash in Salt Lake City on Monday.

Police say that the Chevelle had been stolen from Naples, Utah, some four hours away from the Salt Lake area. This, along with the several firearms found in the car and the suspect’s felony warrants may have contributed to his refusal to stop when police tried to detain the driver in the first place.

While we’re glad that a criminal appearing to be up to no good is now off the streets, the severe damage done to the Chevelle is a tragedy. We’re not sure if the car could be repaired, but the pictures of the bright red beast don’t look too promising. That is one scratch, that won’t just buff out.