Man Takes Police Cruiser On Joyride, Drives Erratically
30-Minute Chase Ends Near Castle
Rock
POSTED: 8:35 am MDT July 12, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Police were investigating how a man stole a police cruiser from an officer who was standing a few feet away.
William Dieckmann, 29, of Colorado Springs, was accused of taking the car and leading officers on a 30-minute chase Saturday that ended near Castle Rock. He allegedly stole the car from Monument Valley Park while an officer talked with people about 3 feet away, police said.
Police Sgt. Lisa Cintron said she didn't know whether the officer, whose name was not released, left his keys in the cruiser before the theft.
The stolen cruiser traveled north for almost 25 miles driving erratically on Interstate 25 before its right rear tire blew out.
The driver tried to run from the car at a rest stop but was halted by a Taser shot, police said.Copyright 2004 by
The Associated Press. All rights reserved.