Missouri Valley police were looking for a stolen vehicle early Tuesday - their own.

The theft occurred around 4 a.m. Tuesday, shortly after a Missouri Valley police office stopped Richard W. Garule Jr., 23, on Iowa Highway 183 south of town.

The department had received a complaint of a possible intoxicated or impaired driver on Highway 183, Missouri Valley Police Chief Ed Murray said.

An officer - whom Murray declined to identify - stopped Garule. When the officer looked inside Garule's vehicle, firearms were visible. The officer called for backup and placed Garule in his patrol vehicle.

Murray said the officer was asking Garule some preliminary questions when a Harrison County sheriff's deputy arrived.

The police officer got out of the patrol car to speak with the deputy, Murray said. Garule allegedly slid over in the car until he was behind the steering wheel, locked the car's doors and took off.

Garule, of Missouri Valley, had not been handcuffed because he wasn't under arrest, Murray said. "At that point he was only being detained."

The deputy and officer pursued Garule, but he got away, Murray said.

Officials accuse Garule of causing more than $10,000 in damage to the police car, which was found in nearby Modale. The interior and exterior of the car were damaged, as were the radio, radar and the vehicle camera.

Garule allegedly stole a 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer in Modale. The vehicle was equipped with OnStar, a communication, safety and security service.

A Washington County, Neb., sheriff's deputy and a Blair, Neb., police officer found the TrailBlazer in Blair. They approached the vehicle at about 7 a.m., putting a spotlight on it. At that moment Garule sat up. B.J. Grove, a spokesman with the Washington County sheriff's office, said Garule may have been sleeping.

"He was taken into custody without incident," Grove said. In Nebraska, Garule was charged with possession of stolen property.

In Iowa, Garule is accused of first-degree criminal mischief, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, Murray said.

Missouri Valley has four squad cars, Murray said.

"We'll be all right as long as we can keep the other three running," Murray said.

Asked if the officer followed proper procedure in leaving the police car with the suspect still inside it, Murray said, "It was one of those things you don't expect to happen. But it did."

The investigation continues. Authorities are trying to determine the owner of guns found in the vehicle Garule originally was driving.