ROCKFORD, Ill., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A man arrested in Rockford, Ill., escaped and allegedly stole a police car while handcuffed, leading police on an 80-mile chase to Chicago, police say.
The unnamed suspect was first arrested early Tuesday by Rockford police after his car crashed into a house, which sustained minor damage, the Rockford Register-Star and the Chicago Tribune reported.
The man and a passenger fled on foot, but were apprehended by police. The driver was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and placed in the rear seat of an uncaged police car. As officers stood outside discussing details of the arrest, the man apparently somehow managed to get his cuffed hands in front of his body, jumped into the driver's seat, and drove the car onto Interstate 90 with officers in pursuit, Rockford police Sgt. Patrick Hoey said.
Rockford police said they chased the suspect, who never exceeded 65 mph all the way to Chicago, where the suspect exited the interstate on the city's North Side. The man, who was from Chicago, was taken into custody after the squad car stalled and was surrounded by police, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The suspect was taken into custody by Chicago police officers, said Illinois State Police officers, who helped in the chase.
The man was being taken back to Rockford to face charges, Hoey said.
