By Kolby LaMarche

Burlington police were called to Pearl Street and Park Street at 1:42 p.m. yesterday for an unresponsive person in a vehicle. They had been called by other downtown drivers who reported the incident. 

Firefighters arrived and began checking on the driver, Kareem Lighty, a Burlington resident. Police say that one firefighter was inside the vehicle, evaluating Lightly’s condition when Lighty, suddenly, then drove away at high speed. 

The vehicle then, according to witnesses, went the wrong way, driving erratically down a one-way section of Park Street.

A short time later it crashed into a light pole near Battery Park. Lighty was then taken into custody.

Online forums quickly shared on-the-street footage of the event, capturing Lightly’s arrest just outside of his crashed vehicle. 

One police officer was injured and is being treated. Police did not say more on the condition of the firefighter. 

Criminal charges are under review. The investigation is ongoing, the department says.