Griffith, IN - Gary Man Steals Running Police Car - Chase - Crash - Police Car Under Water

Found 11-26-06

GRIFFITH | A Gary man stole a running, unlocked police car and plunged it into a watery ditch Saturday before officers arrested him on a long list of charges, police said.

Troy M. O'Brian, 32, of Gary, stands accused of stealing both a civilian truck and a 2006 Chevrolet Impala squad car before he was arrested at the close of a wild, messy chase.

At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of West 45th Avenue in Griffith, Sgt. Jeff Gang stopped a pickup truck reported stolen through an Illinois police department. O'Brian bolted through yards and over a fence as Gang chased, according to Gang's police report. Gang left his car open and running in a hurry to catch O'Brian.

Gang said he always locks his squad car when he leaves it.

After Gang lost sight of O'Brian, he doubled back to his car in time to see O'Brian drive away in the squad car, Gang wrote in his report.

O'Brian drove on a grassy lane extending from Harvey Street, according to the report. Another officer chasing the stolen squad car discovered the car crashed into the Cady Marsh Ditch at a 60-degree angle, submerged up to its windshield.

Gang drove to the scene in the pickup originally driven by O'Brian.

Lake County sheriff's police and Griffith officers collared O'Brian in the 1300 block of Woodlawn Avenue in Griffith. He was soaked to his waist and dressed differently than when the chase started, according to the report. Another officer found wet clothes nearby.

Crews and officers struggled until about midnight Sunday to remove the swamped car and other cars that got stuck on soft, wet ground during the recovery.

The owner of the original stolen truck was called.

Gang was not sure Monday night whether the stolen squad car was totaled.

O'Brian faces charges on two counts of auto theft, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and driving while suspended. He also faces a citation for failing to signal a turn. O'Brian has one prior conviction for auto theft, according to a court affidavit.

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