The Daily Times – Found on 12/07/04

A Delaware County Sheriff's deputy was left flat footed after a handcuffed, bathing suit-clad woman stole his patrol car.

Deputy Jim Austin along with deputy Steve Brownell, were attempting to execute a court order to remove a minor female from a Flint Ridge residence and place her in protective custody when Crystal Barraza, 37, intervened; violently, the deputies reported.

Barraza, who is described as five feet five inches tall and weighing in at a bantam weight of 125 pounds, nonetheless, went toe to toe with Austin, according to a press release issued by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.

At one point, according to the released statement, Barraza told the teenage girl, her daughter, to run which she did.

After a struggle, Austin who said he was afraid of hurting the diminutive Barraza, finally got her handcuffed and placed into the back of his caged patrol car.

Barraza was sweating, the report states, and Austin left his patrol car engine running with the air-conditioning on.

Moments later Austin noticed Barraza in the driver's seat speeding away in the squad car.

Austin made an attempt to reach through the window to grab the keys from the ignition, the report states, but Barraza nearly captured his arm in the window as she closed it.

Brownell and Flint Ridge security offices gave immediate pursuit, the report stated but lost Barraza in a heavily wooded area.

She later turned herself in to the sheriff's office, still cuffed and with scratches on her from her overnight ordeal in the woods, the report said.

Barraza told officers she was upset because of Oklahoma laws. In California, her home state, only female officers can take minor females into custody and a judges order demanding protective custody must be in writing.

Barraza was arrested on charges of assault and battery of a peace officer, resisting arrest, escape from custody and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle - namely the stolen patrol car.

Barraza posted a $10,000 bond Wednesday.

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