A man “naked as a jaybird” and suspected of being hopped up on drugs led cops on a wild chase on a stolen ATV for more than an hour through Kansas City, witnesses and police said.
The crazy pursuit unfolded around 2:20 p.m. Sunday when cops were first alerted to the nude man speeding around on an all-terrain vehicle, officials said.
The unidentified suspect, who was believed to be under the influence of drugs at the time, evaded police in a field before leading cops on a wrong way-chase on Interstate 435, driving the ATV south in the northbound lanes, the Kansas City Star reports.
Video of the man taken by other drivers showed him barreling down the shoulder of the highway.
“We’re looking at him right now,” witness Jess Fishell told police. “Swear to God. White dude, naked as a jaybird, on an ATV running against traffic on I-29 … This dude is butt-ass naked.”
Another man in the car then said: “Only in Kansas City!”
The naked rider was eventually taken into custody at about 3:45 p.m. near the former site of Sam’s Town Casino, according to the newspaper.
Deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the suspect’s arrest on Twitter, saying he refused to stop earlier for police.
“No dangerous instruments were found,” the department posted.
Fishell, whose Facebook video of the incident had been viewed more than 1.8 million times as of Monday, told KCTV that he and a friend were returning from a shooting range when they spotted the man, who appeared strangely calm, according to Fishell.
“I couldn’t be that calm in public naked,” Fishell said. “I’d be freaking out, having an anxiety attack.”
No injuries were reported and it’s unclear why the man was naked. He was involved in an earlier car chase with troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after bailing from a vehicle, KCTV reports.
Whatever led up to the chase, cops in Kansas City couldn’t resist getting in on the fun, noting on Twitter the “great weather” there on Sunday.