A Mississippi County man is facing several charges in Jonesboro stemming from a series of incidents that happened over the weekend, one of which is stealing police cruiser.

Jonesboro police arrested 28-year-old Sean Whitney Friday, May 18.

Whitney is in custody at the Craighead County Detention Center on 14 charges.

Deborah Brewer, Whitney’s mother, said the man sitting in jail is not the son she knows.

“He’s a very likeable person. Whether he knows you or not, he’ll act like he knows you.”

According to Brewer, the incident that led to the arrest of her son started at her apartment complex. “I had two TV’s stolen, which I knew, I just knew that he was the one responsible because I knew the drug problem that he has.”

Brewer said she called 911, hoping to get her son arrested so that he could get help for his habit. “That’s when he proceeded to fight with me, and it was just not him. It wasn’t my son.”

Whitney left before police arrived and police said they found him at a laundrymat on East Nettleton Avenue.

Police said Whitney tried to run away on foot, then decided to drive away in the officer’s car heading down Frisco Street located behind the laundrymat before turning right onto Watt.

The officers attempted to track Whitney down by tracing the officer’s cell phone that was still in the car, but Whitney heard their plan over the police radio, and destroyed the cell phone.

The officer’s patrol rifle and shotgun, and a glass pipe police said fell out of Whitney’s pocket were also in the vehicle.

Police said they located Whitney at the home of an ex-girlfriend.

The woman was not at home at the time.

After calling the woman to get permission to enter her home, officers forced their way in with weapons drawn and arrested Whitney.

Brewer hopes her son’s time in jail will convince him to get the help he needs.

“My heart hurts for him. It’s not about the TV’s. It’s not about anything else that might’ve been come up (sic) out of this apartment. I could care less. Them (sic) are material things. I can replace that. It’s not about that. It’s just my son needs help.”

Sean Whitney’s court date has not been set.

Charges listed in the police report:

•Residential burglary
•Theft of $1,000 or less
•Second degree assault on a family member
•Theft of a vehicle
•Driving on a suspended license
•Fleeing
•Careless and prohibited driving
•Possession of drug paraphernalia
•Resisting arrest
•First degree criminal mischief
•Possession of a firearm
•Theft of a firearm
•Breaking or entering
•Criminal trespass