Osceola County Patrol Car Stolen
By Amy Sayre
12-04-03 - Osceola, FL
Most officers do not like to receive 3 a.m. calls at home, but the news was even worse when Osceola County Undersheriff Dave Fowler received word his police car was stolen.
Sheriff’s department deputies got more than they bargained for when arresting a 21-year-old Sears man early Wednesday morning.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 8944 30th Ave. at 2:35 a.m. when they received a phone call from Randy Peterman who was intoxicated and suicidal.
"He said he wanted us to come there and kill him. He said he wanted to die and wanted the officer to do it," Fowler said.
He said shots might have been fired before police arrived on the scene.
Peterman was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the back of the Osceola County patrol car – a standard procedure. What happened next was not so routine.
"Some people were milling around outside. The rest of the officers went in the house to make sure everyone was OK," Fowler said.
While officers were surveying the scene, Peterman seized the opportunity to manipulate his hands to the front of his body, break through the caged partition, get behind the wheel and drive off in the patrol car.
Fowler, who also had one of his cars stolen about 20 years ago, said the things that go through an officer’s head when he sees has patrol car drive away are not printable.
The remaining deputies and officers from the Michigan State Police-Reed City post pursued the vehicle about 10 minutes on M-66, eventually running the car off the road. Still unable to give up the fight, Peterman was taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers.
No one was hurt during the chase, but Fowler said Peterman is likely to face some stiff charges. Peterman left the roadway several times and tried repeatedly to crash into the other deputies’ cars. "He came back at officers head on, that will play a significant role in our investigation," Fowler said.
Peterman was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in the Osceola County District Court for unlawful driving away from a vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and at least $2,000 in fines and costs. At least four more charges are pending.
Fowler said given the nature of the chase, the police cars are in relatively good condition. But the partition cages will receive some modifications to lessen the likelihood of this happening in the future, he said.