Youth steals police cruiser
Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Summerfield Township teenager on Sunday, Jan. 26 after he reportedly stole a police car.

At about 7:15 p.m., Deputy Brian Quinn was investigating the theft of a hand gun, allegedly by the 16-year-old teen. The deputy went to the teen’s house on Teal Road and took him into custody. The deputy arrived at a home in the 8000 block of Summerfield Road to do some follow-up, which was to include retrieving the gun.

The deputy left the youth inside the car while he went into the house. In the back seat of the patrol car, the teen was in a screened-in area. The screen comes down from the roof of the car and stops just below the top of the front bucket seats. The juvenile was able to reach around the driver’s seat and release the tilt-back lever. This released the seat forward about eight inches. It was enough room for him to squeeze through and get into the front seat area.

The teen then put the patrol car into reverse and sped off. He traveled south to Cortz Road, turned east and traveled to Wells Road, then went north. On Wells Road just north of Todd Road, the juvenile lost control of the police unit and crashed into the ditch off the east side of the road.

The teen then took the 9mm long gun from the front seat of the vehicle, and fled on foot.
As the juvenile left the driveway on Summerfield Road, Dep. Quinn saw him and called it out on his portable radio. Several officers moved into the area and within three minutes the stolen patrol car was located.

A perimeter was set up and a tracking dog was called in. A helicopter from the Toledo Police Department also was brought in.

Within 90 minutes, Sgt. Ortolano and his tracking dog “Drake” made a successful track to a home in the 15000 block of Old Ida Center road. The juvenile had gone to this home because a friend lived there. The teen was taken into custody without incident. The stolen long gun also was recovered. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

The juvenile was lodged in the Monroe County Youth Center on several charges.

The capture of the youth was a joint effort by officers of the Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and Toledo Police Department.