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Police car stolen after party is busted Salisbury man faces charges in incident By Daniel Valentine - Daily Times Staff Writer |
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SALISBURY -- Police arrested a 20-year-old Salisbury man Monday in connection with the theft of a Wicomico County Sheriff's Office patrol car from the scene of an off-campus weekend college party. "They may think of it as a prank, but it is motor vehicle theft, and we're taking it very seriously," Sheriff's Office Capt. Gary Baker said Monday. Tyler Christopher Barnes, 20, of Salisbury was charged Monday night with motor vehicle theft, theft over $500 and unauthorized use of a vehicle for allegedly taking a county police cruiser on a half-mile joy ride early Sunday, according to the Sheriff's Office. The patrol car was not damaged, Baker said. It was found within an hour in a field off Dykes Road, about a half-mile east from where it was taken. According to police, Barnes allegedly got into the police cruiser and drove away from a Windham Court home where deputies were handing out underage drinking citations from a party early Sunday, Baker said. Responding to noise complaints from neighbors, the officers arrived at the home at about 12:30 a.m. and one trained a spotlight on the house, where a group of partygoers were scattering, Baker said. The two officers went into the house, where they issued four citations for underage possession of alcohol. The party organizers were not charged, Baker said. When the officers went in, the key was left in the ignition of one of the cars. Officers often leave the motor running while locking their vehicles to keep sirens and lights on while stopped, Baker said. "A lot of deputies will keep a separate key," he said. "The deputy thought it had been locked." When the two officers left the building a few minutes later, the police cruiser was missing. After a short search, the car was found abandoned about 10 yards into a field. The car was still unlocked, and the key had been taken. Police said they recovered forensic evidence from the vehicle, and interviewing people who attended the party. The investigation is ongoing, said Baker, who declined to name the officer who was using the patrol car that night.Baker asked for anyone with information on the crime to call Det. Nick Gismondi at 410-548-4891. The car is a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria. In 2002, a county police car cost about $20,600, not including additional equipment, county officials said. Baker said police might change their procedures for unattended vehicles following the weekend incident. "We're reviewing that policy at this point," he said. "Leaving the vehicle during a traffic stop is one thing. Going into a house is different."
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