Police: Woman in custody steals squad car

LAWRENCE, Ind. — A shoplifting suspect handcuffed in the back of a police squad car managed to slip out of her seat belt and take off with the vehicle after she was arrested on allegations of stealing from a Walmart in Lawrence on Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened about 3 p.m., said Lawrence Police Capt. Gary Woodruff. Lawrence officers were dispatched to the Walmart store in the 10700 block of Pendleton Pike on a report of a shoplifter.

Police arrived at the store and took a 21-year-old woman into custody after she was accused of stealing electronics, Woodruff said. The woman was handcuffed and put into the back of a Lawrence police cruiser, where she was restrained with a seat belt.

Woodruff said the detaining officer then walked around to the back of the vehicle to complete the police report and talk with another officer. Meanwhile, police said, the woman was able to slip the handcuffs in front of her, unbuckle the seat belt, walk around to the driver's side of the squad car and take off.

Sometime before the woman ended up on a side street off the 11900 block of Pendleton Pike, police said, she called a family member and asked to be picked up. When the family member arrived and saw the handcuffs on the woman's wrists, the relative flagged down police and turned the woman in.

Before the woman took off with the squad car, Woodruff said, the arresting officer was considering simply issuing her a ticket and a summons to court. Now, police said, in addition to a preliminary charge of theft, the 21-year-old also faces charges of escape, auto theft and resisting law enforcement.