By Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A handcuffed suspect managed to steal a DeKalb County police car overnight, hitting an officer as he drove off from a traffic stop.
More DeKalb County news
The officer suffered only minor injuries in the 1:15 a.m. incident at Memorial Drive and Rays Road, DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.
Parish told the AJC that the suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was detained for providing false information. The man was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a patrol car.
She said the officer had returned to the stopped car when he noticed that the suspect had climbed through the partition into the front seat of the police cruiser "and was in the process of stealing the unit."
The suspect ditched the patrol car about a mile away in the parking lot of Value Village, Parish said. The suspect was found about an hour later in woods behind the Windchase Apartments on Hambrick Road, she said. He was still handcuffed.
The suspect faces a number of charges, including robbery and felony obstruction, Parish said.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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22 comments:
HA! I thought we were supposed to had bars in the petition windows to prevent such a thing. Damn good thing the officers didn't have his 12g up front, this could have been a whole different outcome. When will this county learn and provide us with the proper equipment? ie. proper partitions, shotgun/rifle mounts and maybe even a working cad and PATS system. There's nothing like having to get to your trunk when the long gun is needed. Oh well, I'm done bitching. Glad the officers is ok and glad to see we got the perp (I'm sure it's not the first time we've gotten this particular perp.)
BTW I though only DKPD and GSP officers were authorized to drive our cars?!?
Even the perps get to drive the new units!!!
It sickens me to hear that you are placed in this position. If those dumb asses running the County don't want to give you raises, the least they can do is make sure you have what you need to stay alive.
How about eliminating a couple suits? How much does Shelia Edwards make?? There's your $$.
GLAD THE OFFICER IS OK!!!
Ima Citizen
I BLAME THE OFFICER! POINT BLANK
Another Bolton hire, I'm sure...
This for sure was the officers fault, Officer safety as always people!! Just cause he wears black pajamas, "TRT" he thinks stupidity doesn't apply to him...well maybe he has learned a lesson in being humble, we all have the same goal and are on the same team...but sometimes we need to be reminded of it. Glad he wasnt hurt and we got the perp and the unit back "without damage" to it, we couldnt afford to lose another unit...remember folks officer safety your screw up could cost you "BIG"!
Don't be so quick to judge the officer. Were you there? Do you have first hand knowledge of the situation? Have you examined the totality of the situation? I didn't think so! I know for a fact that there are three units at north pct alone that the spring loaded latch for the partition window is broken and doesn't even hold the Plexiglas window in place. Not to mention the fact that they are supposed to have a bar in place to make it near impossible to sneak up front. Really, how much would it cost the county to put in a steel grate in those partition windows to eliminate the possibility COMPLETELY? Why is everyone always so quick to judge the officer?!? I'm just glad he/she wasn't seriously hurt. Speedy recovery to you officer!
Yep he is a Bolton hire, however he is on TRT
how is the county at fault, blame the stupid officer for leaving the window open. you can't blame the county for everything, especially not dumb actions taken by a officer but it is funny as hell. i know officers tend not to want to blame their fellow officers but come on. this county is turning into a show like Reno 911 or better yet DeKalb 911, LOL LOL.
Ofcr responsible? Huh??????????
Well then, I blame YOU for allowing VJ to walk the streets a free man. He should have been in jail a long time ago. Oh brother.
And would someone please explain to me why a cuffed perp was able to get from the back to the front?
Come on Ethel. You're needed on this one.
I'm not going to blame the officer until I know all of the facts. You should do the same.
To the people blaming the officer and refering to him as stupid- do you check the screen from the backseat every time you get a unit to see if it can be opened? Do you have this job down to such a perfection that you never make a mistake? The people being the most critical are probably the same ones that you never hear on the radio yet they are the first ones to get back to the precinct at the end of the shift and talk trash about other officers. I guess it is difficult to make a mistake if you are always behind a building or 10-12 in the Chevron parking lot. The worst part of this job is not the perps, not the calls, not even the supervisors with sour attitudes- it's having to show up at work knowing who we're working with...
I know who to blame>>>>It's Radio's fault,we get blamed for everyting else!!!!!MMMM I can hear the message now.....OFFICER IN TUCKER SCREENING TIL FURTHER!!!!!!
I think this discussion is more about a growing frustration with rookies who know it all and show disrespect and contempt for veteran officers who have years on the road. Veteran officers no longer want to even be bothered with gently pushing new, inexperienced officers in the right direction as the veteran officers did for us when we were rookies....screw them! They'll learn the hard way!
Sadly, we've reached a point where we now just sit back and wait for the "he or she will learn the hard way moment." The supervisors and brass are so focused on solely the number of tickets that they fill these young , empty heads up with praise and accolades while ignoring the short comings and voids. Territories are no longer covered and the little things no longer lead to bigger things....the ticket is the end game, not the PC to bigger stuff.
No wonder these rookies think they know it all and that the veterans humping the calls (their calls and the calls in the rookies' territories........that the rookies are too busy to handle) are just old, disgruntled has beens with nothing to offer or contribute.
This was one of those "no one was hurt and nothing was destroyed, but it was just a matter of time moment." Being dragged by a car was another.
Let's just hope these learning moments remain humbling learning moments that don't lead to a trip to Grady or a reason to lower flags to half staff.
Good or bad......Veteran officers are fed up and take pleasure from these moments of validation.
I wasn't there, and I don't know what state the unit was in, but I most assuredly check the screen every time I get into a unit. There's no way I'm letting a perp in handcuffs get up into the front of that car.
Pssst! I have a question, WHY was this perp hand-cuffed with his hands in FRONT rather than behind his back!?? (true) - Use of arms, use of hands (to a degree; respectively), keys in, car running, officer not in the vehicle + a criminal mind = this situation.
This site has become very embarrassing for DeKalb Officers, especially those who have honored wearing the uniform! Now dispatchers are voicing their distain against PD, are you kidding me? Our department is in need of a major overhaul. What happen to the pride, self dignity and being your brother's keeper?
After reading some of these blogs, really makes you wonder who's backing whom!!
I believe in the freedom of speech and expression but I think this blog has served it's purpose and needs to be disbanded!
Wake up girls and guys. Your life may depend on it...As a supervisor I have rolled up on many situations where people are sitting in the back of units...And yes the first thing I check is the screen, to make sure it is locked. The officer should have checked it before he went back to the violators vehicle. He or she should have turned the engine off and secured the keys in his pocket. He or she should have locked all his door before walking away...The officer's safety should have started at the beginning of his or her shift..By checking the screen and closing it...Making sure it locks...If it didn't it should have been written up so day watch or motor man could get it fixed...Should unit be taken out of service for that type of problem? Probably not, but make sure you remember that it doesn't secure when you are making an arrest...Then call another unit so you can secure your J-1..Young officers better start thinking like Police Officers and start listening to the old timers..This is not our first rodeo...We have been here long enough to see mistakes cost people (perps and officers).. I was here when the same thing happened some 10 yrs. ago and it cost the perp his life. When officers had to shot him to stop the vehicle...Yea I know someone will say well he deserved what he got..BS this man was someones child, brother, or husband...I don't know about you, but I did not come into this job to take a life....Unless it is a matter of life and death..Mine or some victims...That's all I have to say on the subject..STAY SAFE...
Slamin Elthel, you are need some education on how these units work!!! Obviously you are not a Dekalb Police. Try conducting a traffic stop and then cutting the unit off....lol, the damn thing won't crank back up. To all you ignorant people, how about blaming the perp. At some point, i'm sure that unit had the metal partition in it!!!!! Also, Officer Safety is first. Yes, he should have checked the partition at the beginning of his shift and yes, the county should make sure the partition is in the unit. I'm blaming the perp. Slamin Ethel we all know if you ARE A COP, you have never enforced any traffic laws, you are a joke buddy boy/girl!!!!
Just because the perp ended up with his hands cuffed in front of him doesn't mean that's where the officer put them in the first place. You assume too much. It's very easy for a perp to move their handcuffs from back to front. If you don't know this, you're either not a cop or you're a slug who hasn't arrested enough people.
Check out this perps's history in the jail's website. He's no stranger to obstruction, theft, and drug charges. He's yet another career criminal that Gwen Keyes has just slapped on the wrist a few times.
I seem to remember someone stealing a patrol car while I was at S Pct in the late 80's. Can't remember if it was ours or Centers. There was 25 or so rounds put in that car on I 85 at Spaghetti Junction. Needless to say that guy will never steal a DKPD car again.
And where I work now we have anti theft devices for our crown vics. Tremco makes them.
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