PHOENIX — DPS has released the name of a man accused of stealing a vehicle and then abandoning it along the I-17 Wednesday night in Phoenix.
36-year-old Timothy Carpenter is accused of operating a stolen vehicle and fleeing from troopers when they tried to contact him Wednesday afternoon. Carpenter eventually abandoned the stolen vehicle along the I-17 around 4:30 p.m. and fled on foot.
Troopers located a suspicious device, later identified as a non-explosive military device inside the vehicle, which forced DPS to close the I-17 southbound near Deer Valley Road around 6 p.m. for several hours as they investigated.
The vehicle was eventually cleared and traffic reopened around 9:30 p.m.
Carpenter was arrested after abandoning the vehicle and faces one count of theft of transportation among other charges including outstanding warrants.
