11/24/13 Syracuse, NY – Burglary Call – Suspect Held In Handcuffs – Steals Police Car – Chase – Suspect Crashes Into Utility Pole – Escapes

November 24, 2013

blog.syracuse.com

Forty-eight hours after he escaped police custody authorities are still looking for Daniel Kantak.

He disappeared around 2 a.m. Friday. Syracuse police said Kantak, 33, of Liverpool, stole a police car after he was handcuffed and placed in the back of that car.

Sgt. Tom Connellan said Kantak is still at large.

Officers responded Friday morning to a report of a burglary in progress at 320 Ashdale Ave. Kantak was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and placed in the back of a patrol car.

Police said both doors were locked and a shield between the front and back seats was closed.

“Even though Kantak was cuffed behind his back and placed in the rear of a patrol car with the shield closed, he was somehow able to slip his cuffs to the front and climb through a small window between the back seat and the front seat and drive away in the car,” police said in a news release.

Officers were outside the car, talking to the burglary witnesses, police said. They didn’t realize anything was wrong until they heard the tires squealing.

Police gave chase in their remaining cars, lost sight of the stolen car and later found it smashed up on Court Street near Assumption Cemetery. The car crashed into a utility pole and knocked out power in the neighborhood.

When police discovered the stolen car Kantak was gone.

An extensive search by police failed to find Kantak. Police are continuing to search for him. He is wanted for second-degree escape, second-degree burglary, criminal mischief, unauthorized use of motor vehicle, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and grand larceny.

Kantak is 6 feet 2 inches tall and 165 pounds. He may still be wearing handcuffs.

Police said the department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed appropriate rules and procedures.