Man Steals Police Car While Wearing Handcuffs

A handcuffed man's attempt to steal a squad car and escape arrest proved unsuccessful early Tuesday. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that a Humboldt Park neighborhood man arrested by Rockford, Ill., police allegedly stole a squad car and led police on a chase to the north side of Chicago.

WFIR-TV reported that Rockford police had tried to pull Luis Valentin, 29, over for a traffic violation. The chase then ended when he lost control, the car side-swiped a pole and crashed into a home.

He and his passenger, brother Wilfred Valentin, tried running but were grabbed by police who put them in separate patrol cars.

According to WIFR-TV, the squad car in which Luis Valentin was placed had no cage separating the front and back seats. He snuck his handcuffed wrists over his head and slid into the driver's seat when officers weren't looking.

CBS 2 Chicago reported that the arresting officer was helping another officer after police discovered his passenger had a small amount of marijuana.

Rockford police chased Valentin onto Interstate 90 towards Chicago. A police sergeant said Valentin never exceeded the speed limit and drove carefully. He also never activated the car's lights.

The pursuit ended when the squad car stalled.

Police said the man would be charged with auto theft and other traffic violations. He and his brother are being held in the Winnebago County Jail, WIFR-TV reported.

It seems stealing a cop car may not be as hard as it sounds, as a suspect in neighboring state Michigan was arrested in October when he stole an Ottawa County sheriff's cruiser, according to The Grand Rapids Press .

James Zalsman, 26, was being questioned about a reported domestic violence assault when he attempted to flee on foot early in the morning, circled back around, hopped into the deputy's patrol car and took off, reported the newspaper.

As four police cars surrounded him after a 6-mile pursuit, Zalsman allegedly used the patrol car to smash Sheriff's Lt. Mike Brookhouse's vehicle. Brookhouse was treated and released from a hospital.