Santa Fe, NM - Galveston Co. Police Cruiser Stolen By Officer's Niece - Speeds Of 80 MPH - Crashed Into Vehicle

Officer's niece arrested after allegedly stealing patrol car

04:56 PM CST on Saturday, December 27, 2008
 The Daily News

SANTA FE -- The niece of the Commander of the Galveston County Jail is behind bars after going a joy ride.
37-year-old Ashley Allen allegedly stole her uncle's patrol vehicle.
Ashley Richelle Allen, 37, whose uncle is soon to be Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Major Mike Henson, was charged with driving while intoxicated, unauthorized use of a vehicle and impersonating a peace officer.

Santa Fe police said they got several calls about 3 p.m. reporting an unmarked patrol car with lights and sirens on speeding eastbound on state Highway 6.

“The car was reported to be going about 80 mph, running people off the road and acting crazy,” Santa Fe Sgt. Bill Moffett said.

Before police could respond to the calls of the speeding vehicle, the car crashed into the rear of another vehicle at the intersection of Highway 6 and FM 1764.

Moffett said the woman driving the patrol car got out of the vehicle after the crash and flashed a sheriff’s office identification card claiming to be Major Henson.

“Of course the people in the car she hit figured out she wasn’t a man or Major Henson,” Moffett said.

Henson was out of town on a hunting trip, Moffett said.

After taking Allen into custody, Moffett said a search of Henson’s vehicle turned up items from Henson’s League City residence that they suspect were stolen.

A resident of Houston, Allen was believed to have been staying at Henson’s house recently, Moffett said.

Attempts to reach Henson for comment were unsuccessful.

Allen was being held in the Galveston County Jail on bonds totaling $67,000.
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