A 49-year-old man, Stacey Footman, is facing multiple charges after stealing a police cruiser that crashed into a church in New Haven, Connecticut. Footman has been charged with second-degree larceny, second-degree kidnapping, assault of a public safety personnel, second-degree criminal trover, and interfering with an officer.
The incident occurred at 10:45 p.m. on Sunday when Footman approached the officer parked on Congress Avenue and demanded the officer to exit the cruiser. Despite the officer’s attempts to push him out, Footman got into the cruiser and quickly drove off with the officer still inside. The officer was able to crash the cruiser into a church by pulling the steering wheel.
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson expressed his outrage over the incident, highlighting the risks that police officers face daily. Jacobson stated that Footman appeared to have attempted a “suicide by police scenario” and had a small glass pipe in his possession.
Footman is currently in the hospital on a $500,000 bond. Jacobson’s statement emphasized the dangers faced by police officers and the potential for violence even when sitting in a marked police cruiser. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks that law enforcement officers confront in the line of duty.
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