Original Blog Entry: Man Steals Police Car Because It was Fun

truesee — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:25:03 GMT

Joy ride in police car leads to arrest

Elizabeth Piazza

The Daily Times

09/11/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

FARMINGTON A 21-year-old party-goer claimed he stole a patrol car from a San Juan County Sheriff's deputy Monday because he thought it would be fun. Matthew Anderson, of Phoenix, was arrested and charged with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and resisting or obstructing a police officer, a misdemeanor, the Sheriff's Office said.

He is accused of stealing a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria in the area of milepost 6 on NM 173 early Monday morning.

Two San Juan County Sheriff's deputies were in the area investigating reports of an outdoor party attended by juveniles, the Sheriff's Office said.

Two vehicles filled with juveniles previously were stopped and admitted to drinking alcohol at the party before they were released to their parents, the Sheriff's Office said.

The deputies parked their vehicles at the site of the party. Although they did not immediately locate any party-goers, they discovered several abandoned vehicles, a smoldering campfire and numerous empty alcohol containers.

Anderson allegedly was attending the party, the Sheriff's Office said.

The deputy was returning to the vehicle and unlocked it using the keyless entry. He was about 15 to 20 yards away when Anderson allegedly jumped in.

The car was left running, which is procedure for the Sheriff's Office, Undersheriff Mark McCloskey said. Equipment inside can drain the battery quickly when the car is off.

It was instantaneous from when he hit the

remote to the car door opening and the deputies think he was hiding in the bushes next to the car, McCloskey said of Anderson.

Other agencies follow the same procedure for leaving their car.

A lot of times when officers respond to calls, it's not unusual to secure a car and leave it running, Farmington Police Lt. Vince Mitchell said.

There is a way to lock it and leave it running, which ensures the in-car camera is recording, he said. If the car is off, the camera won't work.

The deputy heard the door open and the vehicle began backing up rapidly.

The deputy pursued on foot after the police vehicle backed away, the Sheriff's Office said. The second deputy also chased after the stolen vehicle, but lost sight of it.

The in-car camera showed the suspect drive away at a high rate of speed down dirt roads for approximately two minutes before abandoning the car and leaving on foot. The stolen vehicle was found 30 minutes later near a well site about one mile from where it was taken.

No equipment was missing and the vehicle sustained minor scratches after being driven through sagebrush.

A distinct set of footprints led away from the vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies eventually located several people hiding in the bushes near the party site and they identified a possible suspect.

About three hours later, deputies located a male walking down New Mexico 173 who matched the description of the suspect, the Sheriff's Office said.

Stealing a police car is a rarity, especially when there is another officer sitting right there, McCloskey said.

Anderson was advised of his rights and admitted to taking the police vehicle because he thought it would be fun, the Sheriff's Office said.

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