4/3/25 Raleigh, NC – Suspicious Person Call – Man Steals The Police Cruiser – Found Later At The Publix Garage – Man Arrested

Raleigh police have identified a man that stole a police cruiser Friday. 38-year-old Joshua Harris has been charged with felony larceny of a motor vehicle.

Officers were responding to a call of a suspicious person around 1:26 p.m. at Glenwood and Wade avenues. When they arrived, Harris ran, jumped into the police car and fled the area.

Police did not chase Harris, but the cruiser was later found on 417 Peace St. in front of the Publix garage. Shortly after Harris was taken into custody. 

He was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, feeling to elude arrest and assault with a deadly weapon.

WRAL reached out RPD asking if officers are required to lock their cars when pulling over a suspect.

In a statement by RPD, a spokesperson said officers are not required to lock their cars in case they have to retreat back to their cars in the event of an emergency.