Man Steals Cruiser, Takes Ride Around the Block
7/14/04 - The Daily Reflector
A Pitt County Sheriff’s Office deputy suffered minor injuries after a scuffle with a man who stole his cruiser and drove around the block, the sheriff said.
Deputy B.M. Hamill, 50, responded to a call of a man behaving strangely in Fountain on Saturday afternoon.
When Hamill arrived at the corner of N.C. 258 and N.C. 222, Bobby James Daniels, 38, got inside the deputy’s cruiser and said, "Someone is trying to kill me," Sheriff Mac Manning said.
Some paperwork fell out of the car when Daniels opened the door. When Hamill got out of the car to retrieve the papers, Daniels moved to the driver’s seat and drove off with the car.
"That’s very rare," Manning said. "(Daniels) approached the deputy like he was a victim. I don’t think (Hamill) recognized this guy was having some mental problems or whatever was going on."
Daniels drove around the block with the 1996 Crown Victoria before stopping and eventually getting out of the car. Manning said Daniels was compliant with the deputy’s orders at first, but started resisting when he was being put in the back of the cruiser.
Both men suffered minor injuries during the altercation. Daniels was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and larceny of a motor vehicle.