Redding man caught tampering with vehicle, truck fights back : Local : Redding Record Searchlight

EDITORS QUESTION?: The editor is of the opinion that this could of been accomplished with a small strip of plastic and no vehicle damage...Thoughts please leave a comment?

Redding man caught tampering with vehicle, truck fights back

Firefighters cut into pickup to free stuck finger

By Jim Schultz (Contact)
Saturday, June 9, 2007

Photo courtesy of the Redding Fire Department

TO THE RESCUE:Redding firefighters use a reciprocating saw to help free Mark James Gugin, whose finger got stuck Friday in the gas-tank opening of a truck parked at a boat ramp off Bonnyview Road.

A Redding man who got his left index finger caught Friday in the gas-tank opening of a truck that doesn't belong to him has a lot of explaining to do.

And one can only imagine the reaction of the truck's owner, who was blissfully unaware as emergency crews carefully cut a big hole in the side of his newer-model Ford F-150 to free the man, when he, or she, finally returned from an afternoon of boating or fishing.

Mark James Gugin, 30, who had his finger tightly trapped for at least 1½ hours, was arrested on suspicion of vehicle tampering after Redding firefighters, some of whom had to labor beneath the truck, finally freed him from the viselike filler tube that leads into its gas tank, police said.

Apparently, Gugin got his finger stuck in a hole above the filler tube's collapsible flange.

"Kind of like a raccoon trap," said Redding Fire Department Battalion Chief Jared "Shane" Lauderdale.

Or a child's Chinese finger trap.

Those who appreciate trucks could not help but cringe as a reciprocating saw was used to take out a big chunk of the expensive vehicle in a step that was necessary to eventually help free Gugin. It wasn't pretty.

"Thank you, guys," Gugin said after firefighters, who used the saw as well as a hacksaw and a bolt cutter, were finally able to release him from the gas filler tube's tight grip.

Although Redding police investigator Al Mellon said he hadn't yet spoken with Gugin about what his finger was doing in the gas tank, three plastic gas containers were in Gugin's car.

His car was next to the truck in the parking lot of a boat ramp off Bonnyview Road. Mellon said boating safety officers came upon the trapped Gugin about 4 p.m., and he was finally freed about 5:30 p.m.

But he wasn't free for long as Mellon handcuffed Gugin and placed him in his patrol car.

According to Mellon, the truck's registered owner lives in Cottonwood.

He placed his business card on the truck's windshield so the owner could contact him once that person returned from what was supposed to have been an enjoyable day on the Sacramento River.