fortworth3

Police looking for 2 men who stole patrol car
By Deanna Boyd - Aug.19, 1998
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH -- Police were looking for two men yesterday
after they were stopped for a traffic violation and stole the office's patrol car.

The officer jumped into their car, which was later determined to be stolen, and
chased his cruiser until the men abandoned it and ran into the darkness.

Fort Worth officer V.J. Rumsey said he pulled over a 1991 Hyundai in the
3500 block of Village Creek about 9p.m. Tuesday because the driver failed to use a turn
signal and had a left brake light out.

"I learned that he had changed the letters on his license plate with black tape," Rumsey said.

The car's driver was placed in the back seat of Rumsey's patrol car and the passenger was asked
to stand outside the car. Rumsey said he was checking several items found on the back seat when
the passenger jumped into the patrol car and drove off, the car's lights still flashing.

Rumsey said he got into the men's car and chased his patrol car for about three to four blocks,
until they abandoned it at Fitzhugh Avenue and Lena Street and fled on foot.

Sgt. R.D. Cook said officers went to a house at the address the driver gave when he was pulled
over. Although it turned out to be a false address, a man at that house was arrested on an
outstanding warrant, he said.

Cook said items found inside the stolen Hyundai, including a shotgun, did not belong to the car's
owner. It was unknown yesterday whether they too had been stolen, he said.

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