Person stole street sweeper, drove it at state trooper, police say

A stolen street sweeper (no, not this one) was spotted on Interstate 93 on Sunday afternoon, police said.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/File

Several police departments are searching for a person who stole a street sweeper, then nearly drove it into a state trooper’s car on Sunday morning, officials said.

The investigation comes after Quincy police sent out a broadcast for a stolen F350 street sweeper heading north on Route 93 shortly before noon, according to State Police spokesman Dave Procopio.

Soon after that, a trooper searching for the vehicle along Elm Street in Medford was forced to swerve out of the way when the person drove the street sweeper at the officer’s car, police said.

The suspect then drove the sweeper south along Route 93, officials said. Officers found the vehicle unoccupied on Exchange Street in Medford around 12:11 p.m. The commercial sweeper, which is owned by a private company, was towed to a State Police facility to be processed as evidence.

State police, along with Quincy and Medford police, are investigating the theft, officials said.