Lenoir, NC - Man Arrested For Stealing Lenoir Patrol Car On Christmas Day - Crashed It
NewsChannel 36 Staff
Posted on December 28, 2009 at 1:56 PM
LENOIR, N.C. -- A 44-year-old man is facing several charges after allegedly
stealing a police cruiser and hitting another vehicle.
James Alexander Nichols, of Lenoir, is being held in jail under a total of
$45,000 bond on charges of driving while impaired, breaking and entering to
auto, larceny and possession of stolen property.
Police say Nichols stole a police officer's vehicle on Christmas day. The
officer was on a break when she briefly stopped by her home. Lenoir police say
the officer left the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria running with the keys inside.
She was inside her home for between two to three minutes when she returned
and found her patrol car missing.
Lenoir police received a report of a patrol car involved in a collision
at the intersection of Blowing Rock Boulevard and Nu Way Circle.
Witnesses identified the driver as Nichols and said he fled the scene on foot.
Officers searched the nearby area and arrested Nichols.
Police say nothing was stolen from the patrol vehicle.