11/06/11 Tucson, AZ – Wanted Suspect Steals Tucson Police Car – Drags Sergeant – 1 Shot Fired – 120 MPH 70 Mile Chase – Stop Sticks – Tasered

November 6, 2011

myfoxphoenix.com

A Tucson man leads police on a 70-mile high speed chase — with speeds hitting about 120 miles an hour. And the bizarre thing is — he was behind the wheel of one of their squad cars!

The chase started in a neighborhood in Tucson and ended just northwest of Casa Grande.

Police said the suspect was so desperate to get away from officers that he actually drove off in the stolen squad car — with an officer still clinging to the door!

The wild ride started at about 11 a.m. Sunday.

Officers tried to pull over a suspected car thief, who was anything but cooperative.

“They attempted to stop the car. The single occupant and driver stopped and bailed and ran,” said Tucson police Lt. Sanford Levy.

The suspect led them on a foot chase through a residential neighborhood, and when he saw an opportunity, he hopped right into a sergeant’s squad car — dragging him as he held onto the door.

The sergeant suffered only minor knee injuries.

“The sergeant with 16 years of experience fired one round — because he feared for his life,” Levy said.

However, he missed hitting the suspect — and the chase was on.

Police said the man floored the gas pedal and hit speeds around 120 miles an hour — up Interstate 10.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officers tried to put out stop sticks three separate times.

“In all of those instances, he was able to drive around them — or due to traffic volume, we weren’t able to deploy them,” said DPS Capt. Brian Preston.

But when he was just north of Casa Grande, the suspect drove right over them — and mangled the tires.

But the man still was not ready to give up.

“He fled from the vehicle on foot across the eastbound lanes,” Preston said.

DPS said he made it to the ditch on the other side, and officers used a stun gun on him and arrested him — ending one of the most unusual pursuits police say they’ve seen in quite awhile.

That suspect was transported back to Tucson to face charges.

Police said they were grateful no innocent bystanders were hurt.