Man steals, crashes police vehicle after being handcuffed in the back of it

PRESS RELEASE (STL Police) -- District 3 took a report for a stolen Chevrolet Silverado in the 3400 block of Oregon shortly before 7:00 p.m. on October 11.

The Silverado was believed to be used in a carjacking that occurred in the 2700 block of Keokuk around 8:30 p.m. A 26-year-old man told officers that two males, possibly in their teens, got out of a Chevrolet Silverado armed with guns. One of the males struck the man in the head before both males stole the man’s Chevrolet Cruze.

District 1 officers spotted the stolen Chevrolet Silverado in the area of Oregon and Meramec around 9:30 p.m.  Officers attempted to pull the Silverado over when it fled at high speed.

Officers followed the Silverado to the 2900 block of Cherokee where three people ran from the truck.  Officers ran after a 23-year-old man and eventually arrested him in the rear yard of a home in the block.

Officers recovered two guns believed to have been discarded by the 23-year-old man while he was running from the Silverado.  One of the guns was reported stolen from St. Peters.

According to a preliminary report, the 23-year-old man was put into the back of a marked Police Tahoe, handcuffed with his hands behind his back. Moments later, officers were standing near the marked Police Tahoe when it sped off. The marked Police Tahoe was tracked to Osage and Illinois, where the Police Tahoe had struck a tree. The 23-year-old man was still inside the vehicle and had somehow removed the handcuffs.

The man was again placed in handcuffs and taken to an area hospital for treatment prior to booking.

The 23-year-old man was arrested for stealing the Police Tahoe and Escaping Custody. We are working with the Circuit Attorney’s Office on additional charges.

The investigation into these incidents is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to call the South Patrol Division at 314-444-0100.  Anyone who wants to remain anonymous and/or is interested in a possible reward can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).