A burglary investigation turned in to a whole lot more early Tuesday morning in Lackawanna County. One of the suspects got away by stealing a police cruiser and leading another police car on a chase. It ended in a fiery crash.

The man who stole the police car and led police on a chase in Old Forge was still on the loose hours later. He has been identified as Sean Thomas Quinn, 35. Police said his hair may be different than in the photograph they released. They said he is missing the pinkie from one hand, and that's what may have allowed him to slip out of the handcuffs.
An assistant district attorney said he believes Quinn is still wearing handcuffs on at least one hand.

The incident began on Lonesome Road in Old Forge. Police caught two men burglarizing a pizza and sub shop. Each suspect was placed in a different police car. One managed to get away.

"While the officers on duty were checking the suspect vehicle for another suspect, one of the suspects weaseled his way out of the handcuffs, got into one of the cruisers, and stole the police car," explained Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza.

The chase came to an end on Main Street, near the Old Forge/Duryea border.

The police car chasing the stolen police car ran off the road and slammed in to a house and caught fire. One of the burglary suspects in the car was quickly removed. The police officer driving was trapped in the wreckage for nearly an hour.

"There was a lady police officer laying, I thought she was under the car, but she was screaming for help. That's all," said Rudy Garafola of Old Forge. He was asleep inside the house when the police car hit. He heard the bang, came out and saw the wreck.

Rose Anne Artabane lives next door. The crash took out a big section of her fence. She watched firefighters and other emergency workers rescue the trapped officer.

"Well, God bless everybody... they did the best they could under a panic situation if you will," Artabane said.

The stolen police car was found on Ann Street in nearby Duryea. There was no sign of Quinn. Police went door to door as part of the search. They said Quinn left a trail. He hit a sport utility vehicle just before he abandoned the police car.

The other suspect, Donald George, faces burglary and related charges. He was taken to the Old Forge police station just before noon.

The police officer involved in the crash is expected to be okay. Police in Old Forge have handed off the investigation into the burglary, the stolen police car and the crash to the state police.