Man crashes into trees with stolen patrol car                          

Officers subdue suspect, patrol car totaled in GA 
By Greg Rickabaugh - Staff Writer - Found on 9/2/02       

North Augusta police say it took five officers to restrain a
shoplifting suspect who stole a patrol car early Tuesday
and wrecked it into two Palmetto trees on Georgia Avenue.

Even the blows of a metal baton on his legs had no effect said
Detective Tim Thornton of the North Augusta Department of
Public Safety. Pepper spray eventually subdued the men, who
admitted later that he had been smoking crack cocaine before
an officer tried to arrest him, police said.

Gerald Eugene Ford, 36, of the 1000 block or Greene Street,
Augusta, was charged with two felonies and five misdemeanors 
after the episode, which required the help of nearly every 
officer who was working the overnight shift.

"This guy was strong," Detective Thornton said of Mr. Ford, 
who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 240 pounds. "He was just
tough to bring down."

Police say a man walked into Circle K on Georgia Avenue 
about 11 p.m. Monday, grabbed a case of beer and walked out.
Officer Kevin L. Wren was investigating the theft after midnight 
when he found Mr. Ford a short distance away drinking beer,
according to a police report.

The man initially cooperated when Officer Wren tried to
handcuff him, police said. But after one of his hands
was cuffed, police say he swung around and struck the
officer in the chest and took off in the patrol car.

The car crashed into two Palmetto trees on Georgia Avenue, 
bending one of them over, Detective Thornton said. After
the wreck, officers surrounded the car, but police say the
driver refused to get out.

Officers shattered the driver's-side window and pulled out
Mr. Ford, who still had a set of handcuffs hanging from his
wrist. He continued fighting officers until pepper spray was
used, police said.

A police report states that officers suffered minor injuries
during the arrest. The patrol vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria,
sustained major damage and will likely be totaled, Detective
Thornton said.

Mr. Ford was charged with felony counts of resisting arrest
and larceny of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor counts of 
shoplifting, public drunkenness, public consumption of alcohol,
reckless driving and destruction of city property.


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