12/7/19 Liberty, OH – Handcuffed Man In Liberty Police Cruiser Manages To Steal It And Crashes Into A Private Vehicle – Man Had Been Thrown Out Of A Bar

December 7, 2019

www.wfmj.com

A man already wanted out of Erie County on a probation violation for burglary is now facing more charges in Liberty Township.

The incident happened just before midnight Friday when 31-year-old Jeffrey Willard, who was already handcuffed in the backseat of a Liberty police cruiser, managed to crash that police car into another vehicle.

That crash happened on Belmont Avenue near Shakers Bar and Grill.

Willard was allegedly kicked out of Shakers for being unruly and then reportedly took a large rock and was throwing it towards the bar owner’s car.

Police say Willard was combative, so he was handcuffed and placed in the back of the cruiser.

Willard was somehow able to get the handcuffs to the front of his body and allegedly pried open the partition.

Police say Willard was able to get into the front of the cruiser, turned on the lights, and allegedly crashed into another vehicle on Belmont.

The road had to be shut down for a time in that area.

Willard is currently hospitalized, and charges are pending,

Captain Ray Buhala told 21 News the investigation is on-going, and no one else was hurt.