Officers say it took them and the dog about 15 minutes to subdue to the man.
The man was taken to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment.
The driver was only identified as a 41-year-old Maryland man. Charges are pending
Manassas, VA - Suspect Threatens Prince William County Officers With ox Cutter - Steals Police Cruiser - Chase - Crash
Officers Chase Stolen Police Cruiser posted 3:52 pm Sat March 08, 2008 - MANASSAS, Va. from ABC 7 News -
Police arrested a man accused of battling officers and stealing a Prince
William County police cruiser, which he used to lead officers on a wild chase,
according to investigators.
Investigators say it started in Saturday morning, when Loudoun County and Prince
William County police began hearing reports about a vehicle being driven
erratically in the area of James Madison Highway and Sudley Road.
Prince William County police officers spotted a vehicle matching the description
that had been stopped and was blocking traffic at the intersection of Gum Spring
Road and Sudley Road along the Loudoun County-Prince William County border.
When officers boxed in the suspect vehicle, they say the driver began waving a
box cutter at the officers, who took cover. As they instructed the driver to
surrender, police say the man suddenly got out of the car and got into a police
cruiser. Officers wrestled with the man, who was able to get the car into gear
and take off.
Police chased the stolen cruiser, heading eastbound on Route 234.
The cruiser got on to Interstate 66 eastbound, entering Fairfax County, where
a Fairfax County canine officer picked up its trail. The officer followed the
cruiser until it made a U-turn on Interstate 66. The officer put a spike strip
in the middle of I-66 westbound. The strips blew out the tires, causing the
driver to lose control of the cruiser and crash.
Four or five police officers from Prince William County, a Virginia State
Trooper and the Fairfax County K-9 officer surrounded the stolen cruiser.
Police say the driver got out and again threatened officers with a box
cutter.
Officers say it took them and the dog about 15 minutes to subdue to the man.
The man was taken to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment.
The driver was only identified as a 41-year-old Maryland man. Charges are
pending