Cordele, GA - Handcuffed Suspect Steals Deputy's Patrol Car - Crashes - 2nd Police Car Stolen in a Month
— CORDELE — A subject who was arrested Wednesday for a gas drive-off at a
local convenience store ended up stealing a deputy’s patrol unit, according
to law enforcement, and was finally apprehended in Turner County.
Judson Lamar Cassell, 26, who had a Florida identification card, but was living
in Franklin, Ga., faces multiple charges in Crisp, Turner and Heard counties for
his actions on Aug. 16.
At approximately 8:20 p.m. that day, employees at Harold’s BP reported a gas
drive-off and told 911 dispatchers the subject was headed south on Interstate
75.
A lookout was placed on the vehicle and Cpl. Avery Hillman of the Crisp County
Sheriff’s Office located the suspect car. As Hillman was trying to catch up to
the vehicle, authorities in Turner County were notified and were waiting at exit
84 for the car, which turned out to be stolen from Heard County according to law
enforcement officials.
According to reports, as the car neared the exit, the driver got off and ended
up wrecking at the top of the ramp. He jumped out of the vehicle and ran on foot
for a short distance, but was quickly caught by Hillman and deputies from Turner
County.
Cassell was handcuffed (with his hands behind his back), arrested and placed
in the rear of Hillman’s patrol unit.
According to reports, somehow, the suspect was able to get his hands in front of
him, slide the window of the “cage” inside the car open and climb into the
driver’s seat.
According to reports, he took off and drove from mile marker 84 to about mile
marker 80 where he ran over some construction barrels, damaging the cruiser’s
rims. He apparently thought the car was damaged so badly that it was not able to
be driven. It was at that time he jumped out of the car, still handcuffed, and
ran on foot a second time.
Additional Turner County officers were requested and cordoned off the area he
was thought to be in. The officers were told by employees of a factory nearby of
Cassell’s whereabouts and he was located and again taken into custody.
Cassell faces numerous charges in Heard, Crisp and Turner counties and is
currently being held in the Turner County Jail.
In a separate incident, a Cordele Police officer had his patrol unit stolen
on July 22 while he was providing security at Sunset Homes.
Sgt. Robert Green said in his incident report that around 4 a.m. he left his car
running at 23rd Avenue and 11th Street with the blue lights on and the doors
locked. However, the driver’s side window was down approximately two inches.
He said while dealing with loiters in the area and an assault in the middle
of the housing complex, he spoke with a black male and advised him to leave the
projects. The man apparently got upset and told Green he was “going to make him
famous.” Green said however, the man was complying with his demands so he
ignored his comments.
The report says after Green finished dealing with the incidents at the complex,
he went back to his vehicle and realized it was gone. A lookout was immediately
placed for the car, which was later found on the east side of Holsey Cobb
Village.
Green said he reviewed the tape in the car’s in-car camera, which showed the
suspect driving and exiting the vehicle and then flee into Holsey Cobb.
Later that evening, Green said he saw the suspect near 23rd Avenue and 11th
Street and approached him. The suspect saw him and fled toward the old Harvey’s
store on West 24th Avenue into a wooded area.
As of Thursday afternoon, however, no arrest had been made in the case