Stolen Patrol car leads to all Patrol cars to get door latches fixed
By Greg Rickabaugh - Found on Sept. 14, 2002 

Richmond County authorities must fix the cage-window latch inside 
68 new patrol cars because they have problems locking and protecting 
deputies from unruly suspects in the back seat, authorities said Friday.

The decision to fix the latches came after a deputy was nearly run 
over early Wednesday when a suspect crawled through the tiny cage
window and stole the vehicle.

An examination of the new patrol cars shows the latches don't work 
very easily, Maj. Larry Vinson said.

The sheriff's major said he tried to test the new latches himself.
After jiggling and shaking it seven or eight times, it finally 
locked shut. 

"That's just not acceptable," he Said. "Deputies should not 
have to worry about (the latches). They've got their minds on 
other things." 

Traffic division Deputy Virgil D'Antignac tested one of the 
latches Friday.

"It's flimsy," he said. "You have to play with it."

Sheriffs officials plan to ask the company that installed 
the cages to adjust the latches and enlarge the holes to 
make them easier to use, a process that should take about
a month.

The latches were part of a cage installed by West Chatham 
Warning Devices and ordered by the sheriff's office and
manufactured by Trico Industries.

We're just putting in what was provided," Mr. Owens said
of the installations. "The cages will latch. The deputies
may have to jiggle it a little bit, but it will latch."

But the latch isn't the only problem, police said.

Maj. Vinson said he is concerned with the Plexiglas 
windows that can be broken by a kick. He wants to use 
wire mesh across the entire cage. That would allow deputies 
to keep the window open and allow cool air to flow into
the back seat on hot days, he said. 

Maj. Vinson said the sheriff's office will examine the
costs of wire meshing.

The security of the inside cages became an issue 
Wednesday when Deputy Jason Youngblood was injured
after a suspect escaped from his patrol car. Police 
say 19-year-old Robert Willie Cason III crawled from
the back seat to the front while Deputy Youngblood
was standing outside.

The suspect stole the car and hit the deputy's right hand
as he sped away, police said. But he wrecked nearby and
ran. He was captured eight hours later.

Authorities originally said the deputy's hand was broken,
but it was only sprained. He is expected to return to work
today, Capt. P.A. Williams said.

Internal affairs officers are investigating the deputy's
actions while patrol officers examine the Ford Crown 
Victorias and look for ways to better protect officers.

Maj. Vinson said the older-model patrol cars were installed
with sturdier spring-type latches. Those latches, click shut
with no problems, he said.

Maj. Vinson said most suspects are cooperative, but he guesses
8 to 10 percent are unruly and try to kick the window or harm
the officer after being arrested.


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