Suspect Steals Squad Car En Route to Jail

8/3/00

KNOX, IND. - A funny thing happened on the way to jail Wednesday 
for North Judson Police Officer Randy Schwartz.

The inmate he was transporting to the Starke County Jail assaulted 
him, stole his car and wrecked it - all before breakfast. 

Patrick O'Connell was in Schwartz's back seat after being arrested 
for public intoxication and disorderly conduct just after 4 a.m.

While traveling to the local lockup, 0'Connell tried to kick out the 
cruiser's back window.

Police Chief Suzie Woods said, "Schwartz stopped his squad car to gain
control of the prisoner when he [O'Connell] overtook the squad car and
sped away."

Schwartz was uninjured and O'Connell was re-captured 21 minutes later. 
A deputy responded to an accident call to discover Schwartz's cruiser 
upside-down with O'Connell still in it, handcuffed.

O'Connell was taken into custody again with new charges that included 
auto escape. Both are felonies that will be added to O'Connell's 
original misdememor.

Backup news staff writer Richard Rogers


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