Letting the past haunt your department?

2003 - Publicized Escapes

• Delaware                                     December  2003
  A prisoner was being transported to court in a transport van, when he somehow freed himself from handcuffs and leg shackles.  When transport officers opened the van doors, the prisoner jumped out and fled on foot.  The prisoner was caught a few weeks later after stealing many vehicles and at least 2 armed robberies.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Michigan                                      December  2003
  Officers stopped a vehicle and was holding a female subject for questioning about a shop lifting crime in the back seat of the patrol unit without handcuffs.  While the officer were interviewing another subject from the stopped vehicle, the female subject in the patrol unit jumped into the front seat of the patrol unit and drove off.  Officers found the unit abandoned.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Maine                                           December   2003
  Officers arrested a subject and placed him handcuffed in the back seat of the patrol unit, but the subject escaped out the half open window the subject rolled down.   Officers searched and found that subject at a residence and arrested him again.   Officers took a 2nd subject into custody at the residence for outstanding warrants.   The 2nd subject was handcuffed and seatbelted in the front seat of the patrol unit.   While officers were getting additional information the 2nd subject slipped out of the patrol unit and escaped on foot, only to be caught a short time.
  Prevention - Step #1

• New York                                      December   2003
  While officers were dealing with an unruly prisoner by the transport van, a different prisoner escaped on foot.
  Prevention - Step #2

• California                                      December   2003
  A teenager who was being arrested for shoplifting, was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a patrol unit.  The officer was getting more information in the store and upon returning to his patrol unit found the teen had knocked out a patrol unit window and escaped on foot.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Illinois                                           December   2003
  While officers were loading a prisoner in the transport van, another prisoner escaped on foot.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Pennsylvania                                December   2003
  Troopers were searching a vehicle and found over $100,000 worth of marijuana wrapped in 1 pound packages.  When the drugs were found the suspect ran on foot, but was caught and arrested a short distance away.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Indiana                                         December   2003
  While investigating a shop lifting incident, officers placed the suspect in the back seat of the patrol unit without handcuffs.  Officers were dealing with another subject who resisted arrest.  After arresting the 2nd subject the officers discovered the 1st subject stole the patrol unit. The patrol unit was later found abandoned.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Washington                                  December   2003
  An officer was assisting a motorist when a homeless lady walked near the area.  While the officer was checking on the motorist the homeless lady stolen the patrol unit.  The stolen patrol unit was stopped and the homeless lady captured.
  Prevention - Step #3

• North Carolina                              December  2003
  Officers arrested 2 men for felony drug charges, handcuffed them, and placed them in the back seat of an unmarked police car.  While searching the subject's vehicle, one of the men jumped into the driver seat of the patrol unit and sped away.   The patrol was later found abandoned, 1 subject was later arrested and the other is still at large.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Tennessee                                    December 2003
  Officers arrested four suspects for drug charges and arson charges.  While in custody in a squad car, one of the suspects kicked out a rear side window and jumped into another squad car that was running.  After a short chase the suspect crashed the patrol unit into another patrol unit.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Mississippi                                    December  2003
  An officer arrested a suspect on drug charges, handcuffed the suspect, and placed the suspect in the back seat of the patrol unit.  While the officer was searching the suspect's vehicle, the suspect somehow slipped into the driver seat of the patrol unit and took off.  The patrol unit was recovered later abandoned.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Michigan                                      December  2003
  Officers took an intoxicated and suicidal subject into custody by handcuffing and placing the subject in the back of the caged patrol unit.  While the officers were gathering more information and talking to witnesses, the subject got his hands in front of his body, broke through the cage partition, and sped off with the patrol unit.  Officers pursued the subject who tried multiple times to crash into officer's cars before running off the road and being arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• California                                     December   2003
  A prisoner on a prison transport bus attempted to escape.  The prisoner was shot and recaptured a short time later.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Alabama                                      December   2003
  An officer was transporting a prisoner from the jail to court for sentencing.   While the officer was paying for gas, the prisoner who was locked in the back seat of the patrol car slid through the cage opening into the front seat and escaped on foot into the woods.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Ohio                                             December   2003
  While transport a juvenile who was handcuffed in the back seat of a caged patrol unit, the officer stopped at a traffic light and the juvenile jumped out and attempted to escape on foot.  The juvenile was caught after a short foot chase.
  Prevention - Step #1

• California                                     November   2003
  A pregnant female subject was arrested after robbing an older couple at a bus stop.  While interviewing witnesses the subject slipped out of her handcuffs and kicked the prisoner screen out and crawled into the front of the patrol unit and escaped on foot.  Officers chased the subject and cornered her on a second story stairwell where she jumped to the ground breaking both ankles and arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Colorado                                      November   2003
  While transport officers were getting another prisoner, a prisoner in the van squeezed past the security cage and drove off with 2 other prisoners inside.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Oklahoma                                    November  2003
  After being arrested for drug charges, the officer handcuffed the suspect and placed her in the police car.  While the officer was inventorying the suspect's vehicle, the prisoner opened the door and escaped on foot.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Pennsylvania                               November  2003
  After being arrested for kidnapping and stealing a car, police were transporting the handcuffed suspect to jail when the suspect somehow opened the back door of the patrol unit and jumped out.  The suspect escaped on foot.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Colorado                                      November   2003
  Officers arrested a subject and transported him to detox.  When the officers opened the door the subject jumped out and ran away. 
  Prevention - Step #1

• Texas                                           November  2003
  A subject arrested on drug charges was handcuffed and put in the back seat of a patrol car.  The subject managed to get out of the handcuffs, break the patrol car’s back window, and take off on foot.   Officers chased the subject to his car where he pointed a pistol at them and fired shots.  All three officers were hit with gunfire and seriously wounded.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Florida                                         November  2003
  Officers arrested a man for probation violation and placed the handcuffed man in a patrol unit.  The man managed to shift his handcuffs from his back to the front, move into the front from the back, and drove off.  The man attempted to hit officers with the stolen police car striking one officer with other officers shooting at the man.   Officers chased the man until he crashed the patrol unit and attempted to escape on foot before being caught and arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1 

• Mississippi                                    November  2003
  A deputy was transporting a prisoner that was secured with leg irons and handcuffs which were on in front.  While the deputy was getting gas, the prisoner got into the front of the patrol unit and drove off. 
  Prevention - Step #1

• Maryland                                      November  2003
  Officers arrested and handcuffed 2 subjects after a disturbance then placed the subjects in the back seat of a patrol unit.  While officers were outside the patrol car gaining information, one of the subjects got into the front seat of the patrol car and drove away.  Officers located the patrol car and prisoners a short time later.  The prisoner which stole the patrol unit obtained a police shotgun from the patrol car's trunk and after a stand-off with officers, shot and killed himself.   The other subject was hiding in the patrol car.  
  Prevention - Step #1 and Step #4

• Texas                                           October  2003
  A subject was arrested for drunken driving and became combative kicking the window out of a patrol unit in an attempt to escape.  The subject was placed in another patrol unit and was being transported to jail when the subject kicked out the window of that patrol unit and crawled out of the moving patrol unit on the interstate and was run over by two following patrol units.  The subject died a short time later.
  Prevention - Step #1

• New Mexico                                 October  2003
  An officer arrested 3 subjects after a gas drive off and pursuit.  The subjects were handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the patrol unit.  While the officer was dealing with a 4th subject, one of the 3 arrested subjects climbed into the front seat taking control of the patrol unit.  The subject attempted to run over the officer but missed and struck a patrol unit at the scene then sped away.  Officers caught the stolen patrol unit after it crashed through a fence and attempted to run over officers a 2nd time.  The 3 subjects were arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Michigan                                      October  2003
  A subject was stopped and questioned about a possible stolen car.  When the subject gave questionable information, the officer placed the subject in the back seat of the patrol car without handcuffing the subject since he was not under arrest.  While the officer was outside the patrol car getting more information, the subject was able to open a screen to the front of the patrol car and crawl into the driver's seat and speed away. Officers were concerned the subject stolen the police shotgun which was mounted inside the patrol car, but did recover the patrol car a short time later crashed with the shotgun safely inside the patrol car.
  Prevention - Step #2 and Step #4

• California                                     October  2003
  An officer responded to a drunk driving call and found out the vehicle was stolen.  The subject was handcuffed behind his back and seated him in the front passenger seat of the patrol car.  While the officer was giving information to the tow truck driver, the subject slipped his arms under his feet to the front of his body and drove away, still cuffed.  The patrol car was found crashed in a ditch.  The patrol car was stocked with a shotgun and an AR15 rifle, but the weapons did not appear to have been tampered with. 
  Prevention - Step #1 and Step #4

• California                                     October  2003
  Police arrested a man in connection with 2 stolen vehicles.  The man was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the patrol unit where he somehow managed to climb into the front seat and drive away.  The patrol car was later found abandoned few miles away.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Nebraska                                      October   2003
  After being arrested for drunk driving and being placed in a patrol unit, the teenage subject somehow freed himself and stole the patrol unit.  During a pursuit, the subject crashed the patrol unit and was taken into custody again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Florida                                          October  2003
  While parked in a parking lot, thieves broke in an unmarked patrol unit and stole the unit, plus an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, a pistol and ammunition.  The vehicle was recovered the next day abandoned, but the weapons missing.
  Prevention - Step #4

• Florida                                         September  2003
  Officers arrested a man drug possession and placed the handcuffed man in the back seat of a patrol unit.  The man complained he was hot and the officer rolled the back window down.  The man crawled out the window and attempted to  escape on foot before being caught.
  Prevention - Step #1

• South Carolina                             September  2003
  The subject was arrested for outstanding warrants, handcuffed, shackled, placed in the back seat of a patrol unit with a cage, and seatbelted in.   While being transported to jail, the subject unbuckled the seatbelt and maneuvered his hands in front of him then complained about the lack of air flow so the officer slid the divider window on the cage open.  The subject came through the open cage and grabbed the officer's gun.  The officer was shot in the hand and while attempting to get another gun, the subject was shot 7 times and died at the scene.  The officer is recovering.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Minnesota                                     September  2003
  A man was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the back seat of the patrol car.  The subject managed to wriggle his cuffed hands around to his front and squeeze through the 18-inch-wide sliding plexiglass door in the cage between the front and back seats and sped away in the patrol car.  The subject hid in a field and when officers got close, the subject drove at the officers who fired on the patrol car with the subject stopping and being arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Michigan                                       September  2003
  A man was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in the back seat of the patrol car for multiple breaking and entering violations.   While officers were checking the man's vehicle for the stolen items, the man squirmed his way through the opening on the patrol car's cage and drove away with the car.   After a short chase, he crashed the car and ran away through the woods, never to be found.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Utah                                              September  2003
  A man was arrested for outstanding warrants, as well as a possible DUI.  The man was handcuffed and seatbelted in the passenger seat of the patrol car.  While the trooper was searching his car, the man managed to slip the handcuffs down around his feet and climbed into the driver's seat in the patrol car and sped away.  The patrol car was found abandoned and after a short hunt, the man was arrested again.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Oklahoma                                     August   2003
  After an arrest, Officers placed the handcuffed person into the backseat of the patrol unit which had a cage.  While the officer's were inventorying the subject's vehicle, the subject slipped around the cage, into the driver seat, and sped off.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Colorado                                       August  2003
  While investigating a littering complaint, the officer found the suspect hiding in a residence.  After making contact with the suspect and the suspect giving evasive answers about the vehicle the suspect was driving.   The officer was getting the vehicle identification number to run a vehicle check, when the suspect ran and jumped into the patrol car and took off knocking the officer down with the patrol car door.  The man abandoned the patrol car a short distance later and escaped on foot.  The vehicle the suspect was driving was stolen and the suspect if believed to be a prison escapee.
  Prevention - Step #3

• Canada                                         August  2003
  After arresting a woman which earlier fled without paying for fuel, the suspect was placed in the back seat of their patrol car.   While officers were outside, the suspect managed to climb into the front seat and drive away.  The suspect crashed the patrol car into a river and was saved by the officers.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Florida                                          August  2003
  During a foot chase of a subject attempting to break-in cars, the officer's patrol car was stolen.  The patrol car was found abandoned but the police-issued shotgun was missing.
  Prevention - Step #4

• Oregon                                          August  2003
  Officers arrested a man who had a case of dynamite.  The subject, who was handcuffed and placed in the patrol unit slipped the cuffs in front and slid through the cage opening, and sped away in the patrol car.  The subject crashed and abandoned the patrol car, stole the unit's AR-15 rifle and other items, then escaped into the woods.
  Prevention - Step #1 and Step #4

• Utah                                               August  2003
  Officers arrested a man for drug and stolen goods violations.  The subject climbing through the window of a police vehicle and sped away.  The subject hit a bus, a large trash bin, and went through a fence.   Officers chased the subject where he crashed into a barge and arrested after a foot chase.  Estimated damages of over $30,000.
  Prevention - Step #1

• California                                      August  2003
  Subject escaped after being handcuffed and placed in the patrol unit.  The man was recaptured after a police dog found him under a bush after a three-hour search.  The man abandoned the patrol car, fled on foot, but was found after a manhunt.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Oklahoma                                     August  2003
  While the Trooper was searching the subjects vehicle, the subjects were planning to steal the Trooper's patrol unit and run him over in an attempt to escape.   This plan was not carried out, but caught by the audio recorder in the patrol unit.    
  Prevention - Step #2

• Kentucky                                       August  2003
  A State Trooper handcuffed a woman behind her back and placed her in the back of his unmarked patrol car.  The lady somehow maneuver her body so that her handcuffs were in front of her, climbed into the front seat, locked the doors and took off, dragging the trooper along with her through the parking lot.  The lady finally ran off the road and rolled the car.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Ohio                                              July   2003
  Officers arrested a man for DUI and was handcuffed behind his back, seatbelted in the front seat of a patrol unit, and the door locked.  While the officer was impounding the vehicle, the man worked his hands in front of his body, removed the seatbelt, and fled the scene on foot.  After a search the man was arrested again later at a truck stop.
  Prevention - Step #1

• New York                                       July   2003
  A man was arrested on drug charges was handcuffed and placed in a police van for transport.  During transport the man managed to get his handcuffed hands under his body and opened up the side door of the police van and escaped on foot.  Police found he was missing after a head count in the van, he is still at large.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Kansas                                           July   2003
  A prisoner escaped while being taken to a doctor escaped when the deputy stopped at an intersection.  The  prisoner attacked the deputy and escaped from the vehicle.  The deputy involved in this incident suffered bumps and bruises.  The prisoner is still at large.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Maryland                                        July  2003
  Unknown suspects broke into two police cruisers – one a fully equipped police car, the other unmarked – and stole one police-issue shotgun, two bulletproof vests, two protective helmets and other pieces of equipment.   Both cars were broken into in apartment complexes, where officers had parked them.
  Prevention - Step #4

• Illinois                                            July  2003
  A trooper put the subject in his squad car while talking  to other subjects.   The subject leaped from the patrol car and fled into a field.  When other troopers arrived to offer assistance the subject was captured and placed in the back seat of another patrol unit.  While the troopers talked, the subject climbed over the center console, into the driver's seat, and sped away.  The patrol car was found damaged in a ditch.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Oklahoma                                      July  2003
  While the Trooper was searching the subjects vehicle, the subject was talking on the cellular phone with his girlfriend about a plan to steal the Trooper's patrol unit and run him over in an attempt to escape.  This plan was not carried out, but caught by the audio recorder in the patrol unit.   
  Prevention - Step #2

• Florida                                           July  2003
  Police were questioning a man who they believed was under the influence. When the officer stepped away from his vehicle, the suspect jumped in and drove off.  The patrol unit was found several miles away, but the suspect has not been found.
  Prevention - Step #3

• Oregon                                           July   2003
  Police say a man stole a deputy's locked, and running car by smashing the window. The Sheriff's Department had a call from a citizen who a patrol car and didn't think a deputy was driving it.  The patrol was stolen and later recovered it crashed.  One man has been arrested, the other is still at large with the semi-automatic police rifle and a police radio from the patrol car.
  Prevention - Step #4

• Texas                                             June  2003
  The suspect was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol unit.  The suspect got the cuffs in front of him, managed to dislodge the cage, and drove away.   After a fairly short chase; the suspect backed the stolen patrol car into the chasing deputy's car and then ran away. The deputy sustained a minor head injury.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Oklahoma                                      June   2003
  While seated in the patrol unit during a search, the suspect stole the patrol car.  The suspect crashed the patrol unit and fled on foot a short distance away.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Tennessee                                     June  2003
  The female got the cuffs in front of her or her hands were small enough to slip out and she drove away in a marked unit.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Wisconsin                                      June  2003
  He was not handcuffed or under arrest at the time, but was placed in the squad car to wait while another suspect was questioned.  The man crawled through the Plexiglas window inside the squad car and sped away, then crashing into a van.
  Preventive - Step #2

• Kansas                                           June  2003
  An officer stopped a man over for speeding, and while the officer was searching the man's car; the man drove off in the patrol car. The patrol car was recovered later.
  Preventive - Step #3

• Illinois                                            June  2003
  A handcuffed suspect climbed over the front seat of an unmarked police car and stole the vehicle early Wednesday while tactical officers were searching the area where he had been arrested.
  Preventive - Step #1

• Texas                                             May  2003
  A suspect freed himself from handcuffs and a transport belt, opened the rear passenger door, and jumped out while the police car was traveling at 40 mph.  Two police detectives were in the front seat at the time of the attempted escape.  The suspect had been helping the detectives investigate a burglary he was accused of committing.
  Preventive - Step #1

• Kansas                                           May   2003
  Officers arrested a lady for an outstanding warrant.  Officers handcuffed her behind her back and placed her in the back seat of the patrol car. The officers returned to the woman's car to talk to a passenger.  The woman  slipped the handcuffs in front of her, crawled through a small window in the cage that divides the front and back seats of the patrol car, and drove away.  Officers gave chase but found the patrol car abandoned.  The prisoner was recaptured later.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Nevada                                          May   2003
  A Trooper and a Sheriff's Deputy were questioning people in a car during a traffic stop when the suspect told the officers she was probably wanted for a shooting in the Reno area. The suspect was handcuffed and placed in the patrol car where she apparently slipped out of handcuffs, stole the state trooper's cruiser, and led officers on a 20-mile chase before she crashed and was captured.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Oklahoma                                      March   2003
  While the Trooper was interviewing a passenger in the subject's car, the subject slid behind the wheel of the patrol car, turned on the emergency lights and siren, and sped away with the Trooper chasing in a borrowed pickup truck.  During the chase the subject pointed the Trooper's assault rifle at the Trooper. When the Trooper shot at the subject, he dropped the rifle, but still resisted arrest until he was sprayed with pepper spray.
  Prevention - Step #2 and Step #4

• Connecticut                                   March   2003
  Officers stop a man and arrested him for outstanding warrants. The man was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car.  While officers were talking to a passenger in the man's car, he got a window open, got out, jumped in the other police cruiser and drove off.  The patrol car was spotted and stopped a few minutes later, the man bailed out and ran off.
  Prevention - Step #1

• California                                      March   2003
  A teenager who was being detained for a probation violation was placed into the patrol car while the officer was talking to the teenagers parents.   The teen kicked out a rear car window, jumped into the driver's seat, and drove away.  The patrol car was recovered later a few blocks from where it was taken.
  Prevention - Step #2

• Illinois                                           March  2003
  While handcuffed in a patrol car the man climbed into the unmarked police vehicle, sat down in the driver's seat, and took off.  The squad car was discovered in an alley, but the suspect was not found.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Pennsylvania                                February  2003
  The prisoner wore handcuffs, leg shackles, and a seatbelt in the back of the police sport utility vehicle while  returning to jail from a hearing.  The prisoner grabbed for the constables gun causing the constable to lose control of the police vehicle causing a crash.  The constable and prisoner fought, but the prisoner fled on foot.  The prisoner was tracked down a short time later after he broke into an elderly woman's house and hid.
  Prevention - Step #1

• California                                       February  2003
  A handcuffed man placed in the front seat of a California Highway Patrol cruiser drove off as the officer was impounding the car.  The man took off his seat belt and drove away in the cruiser, and was arrested a short time later after crashing into large rocks.
  Prevention - Step #1

• North Carolina                                February  2003
  A Deputy arrested, handcuffed and placed a man in his patrol unit for an outstanding warrant.  Somehow, the man made his way into the driver's seat of the patrol car and tried to escape. When the Deputy attempted to stop him, the suspect drove off, dragging the Deputy approximately 300 yards down the street.  The suspect eventually jumped out of the car, fled into a wooded area, and later captured.  The Deputy will recover from his injuries.
  Prevention - Step #1

• West Virginia                                 February  2003
  Police arrested a lady, handcuffed her, and placed her in the back seat of the patrol unit.  While Police were obtaining information, the subject slipped out of the handcuffs, crawled to the front of the vehicle, and sped off.  Police caught the subject a short time later.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Texas                                              February  2003
  While the officer was obtaining additional information; a handcuffed suspect was able to get his hands in front of him, slide open the plexiglass partition separating the front of the police unit from the rear, and got into the driver's seat activating the emergency lights. The officer ran back to the vehicle and was able to subdue the suspect.   Officers said the suspect forgot to press the brake pedal while shifting into drive.
  Prevention - Step #1

• Florida                                            February  2003
  A subject was being picked up on a violation of probation charge.  The subject was handcuffed behind her back, but  able to get them in front of her, jump into an unmarked patrol car, and take off.  The subject nearly ran over an officer while escaping.  The subject and stolen car were spotted, and a high speed chase started.  After crashing to a stop, the subject had the patrol car's shotgun in her hands pointing the weapon at an officer as he snatched it out of her hands.
  Prevention - Step #1 and Step #4

• Michigan                                         February   2003
  A 16-year-old slid under the screen between the front and back seat of the patrol car and drove off. The teen was being held in the back of the car while the deputy was investigating a stolen handgun.  Deputies, located the patrol unit a short time later in a ditch, but the shotgun was missing from the vehicle.  The teen was located at his home, where he later surrendered.
  Prevention - Step #2 and Step #4

• Kansas                                            January  2003
  While being transported, an inmate assaulted a Deputy and then sped away in the transport van.  During the pursuit, spike strips were put down which blew out two of the transport van's tires, but the prisoner kept on driving. The vehicle was stopped when it collided with a deputies' unit.  The prisoner was taken back into custody and returned to jail. 
  Prevention - Step #1

• Wisconsin                                       January  2003
  2 inmates hijack a state prisoner van by overpowering the driver which was a fellow prisoner who was allowed to supervise and driver them.  The 2 escapees were captured later that day. 
  Prevention - Step #1

• New Jersey                                     January  2003
  A woman in handcuffs stole a police cruiser and led authorities on a 60-mile chase before crashing into a tree on a college campus.  The woman had been arrested and placed in handcuffs because of a motor vehicle violation. 
  Prevention - Step #1

• South Dakota                                  January  2003
  Officers arrested a drunk minor at a party and placed him in the backseat of the patrol unit.  While dealing with a large crowd that was throwing beer bottles and making another arrest, somebody let the prisoner out of the patrol unit. 
  Prevention - Step #1

Preventative Steps
With Trooper Trap installed, prevention is 1 switch away.
Follow these easy steps to assist in preventing an escape.

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