MAN STEALS POLICE CRUISER; LEAD AUTHORITIES
                                      ON CHASE

2/11/00
COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. - A 23-year-old man led police on a
chase Thursday in a police cruiser he had stolen in front of a West
St. Paul police officer.

The chase began after Seth R. Dziengel caused a traffic accident.
The responding officer suspected Dziengel was intoxicated and
placed him in the back of his cruiser.

While the officer was speaking with the other driver involved in the
accident, Dziengel managed to squeeze past the cruiser's seat
partition. The keys were still in the cruiser, so the suspect sped
away.

Police reports indicate authorities chased Dziengel for about 25
minutes before he drove head-on into a squad car. The officer in
the car sustained injuries.

Prior to the head-on, the suspect struck two other vehicles. Police 
said during the pursuit, the suspect stopped the cruiser several times 
and asked the officers to shoot him.

Police charged Dziengel with assault, fleeing police and unauthorized 
motor vehicle use. He is being held in the county jail in lie of
$100,000 bail.

Backup news staff writer Holly Cooley
 

http://www.thebackup.com/newsdetail.asp?=3027

Back