07/26/16 Ignacio, CO – Handcuffed Suspect Steals Ignacio Squad Car – Crashed Into Tree On The New Mexico Border – Escaped – On The Run

July 26, 2016

daily-times.com

A 22-year-old man has been accused of stealing an Ignacio, Colo., policeman’s squad car and crashing it near the New Mexico-Colorado border.

Jonathon Richard Clark has been charged in Aztec Magistrate Court with vehicle theft, vandalism, possession of a firearm by a felon and two petty misdemeanors.

Police continued to search today for Clark.

Clark allegedly stole the squad car after he was arrested Saturday night in Ignacio on an outstanding warrant, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Ignacio police officer Miguel Perez told a deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office that he transported Clark to the Ignacio Police Department and went inside to submit evidence, the affidavit states.

Another officer then advised Perez that Clark had crawled through the partition of his squad car and drove away in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

The Ignacio Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Perez told the deputy that Clark was handcuffed when he stole the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Police found the vehicle shortly after midnight crashed into a tree on County Road 4027, the affidavit states. The vehicle had only minor damage, but a dashboard camera inside the vehicle was destroyed.

Police searched the surrounding area, but did not find Clark.

The camera was valued at $3,000, the affidavit states.

Clark’s bond is set at $10,000.