Authorities searching for Cedar Park man who escaped custody in a Stolen Patrol Car
American-Statesman Staff - May 19, 2003
Cedar Park, Texas
Authorities in southern Williamson County were searching Monday morning for a man who escaped custody after leading police on a chase in an alleged stolen car.
Steven Michael Diver, 34, of Cedar Park, is not believed to be armed, but could be dangerous if approached, said Roger Wade, spokesman for Travis County Sheriff's Department. He was last spotted on foot in a wooded area near the Avery Ranch subdivision. Police said he was wearing black shorts, but gave no other description.
Diver was arrested at 1:47 a.m. near the intersection of FM 1431 and Parmer Lane and bitten by a Austin Police Department search dog. He was taken to Round Rock Hospital for treatment.
After he was released from the hospital at 6:55 a.m., he sprang free of two Travis County deputies, and grabbed a lawn mower blade nearby, Wade said. He jumped inside a patrol car, which was running, and drove away.
The deputies shot out two of the cars tires, but he continued to drive, ditching the car at the 19500 block of Braesgate Drive, Wade said.
Authorities believe he may be making his way back to his home, on the 2000 block of Zepplin Drive, in Cedar Park. Officers from several law enforcement agencies, as well as two helicopters are searching for the man. Some schools in the Round Rock school district are in "lock-down" mode, meaning students are not permitted to go outside.