Suspect Arrested After Stealing Police Car

2/28/01
ANDERSON, Ala. - The Anderson Police Chief was nearly run over
with his squad car Sunday night after a man he had arrested and put 
in the back of the car made it to the front and sped toward him. 

On Tuesday, Chief  B.J. Tully said that James Nelson Rich Jr., 20, 
surrendered and was arrested on charges of attempted murder, theft 
of property and escape as well as illegal possession of alcohol.

Tully was on patrol about 9 p.m. Sunday when he pulled over a vehicle
and found a half case of beer inside. He handcuffed Rich, placed him 
in the backseat and was following the same procedure with two of  Rich's
passengers when he heard his patrol car's engine running and the wheels
start spinning.

Normally, Tully said, he handcuffs a suspect with their hands behind 
their back, but he had changed his procedure because Rich had obeyed 
his commands.

"It's safer to have their hands behind them, but I try to work with 
people who cooperate," Tully said.

Backup news staff writer Debby Mongeau

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