A cuffed woman broke free and hijacked a cop car in Sumter, Florida, causing more than $25,000 worth of damage after crashing two vehicles – including the patrol car into a tree.
Footage shows Mia Thornton, 21, getting arrested for stealing and wrecking a Good Samaritan’s vehicle on Pinewood Road, Sumter.
She is then seated in the officers car, where the video captures her escaping from her cuffs and proceeding to drive the cop vehicle.
Footage shows Mia Thornton, 21, getting arrested for stealing and wrecking a Good Samaritan’s vehicle on Pinewood Road, Sumter
Police officers can be heard chasing Thornton – which lasted around 15 minutes report WIS – before she crashed through a fence and into a tree at Sumter Industrial Park.
She was then once again taken into custody on December 27.
Thornton was charged with grand larceny, failure to stop for blue lights, and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. A judge denied bond for Thornton on Thursday.
Thornton’s mother said she has a history of mental illness, but Sheriff Anthony Dennis disagreed with that evaluation.
“I do believe her actions were not that of a mental person,” Sheriff Dennis said.
A Good Samaritan, Freddie Lang, attempted to help the 21-year-old jump start her boyfriend’s car which broke down near Eagle Road and Broad Street, according to an incident report.
She is then seated in the officers car, where the video captures her escaping from her cuffs and proceeding to drive the cop vehicle
Police officers can be heard chasing Thornton – which lasted around 15 minutes – before she crashed through a fence and into a tree at Sumter Industrial Park.
Mr Lang offered Thornton a lift to her uncle’s home. Whilst Lang was driving the car, Thornton grabbed the wheel and steered the vehicle into oncoming traffic.
Luckily, Mr Lang was able to get the car back under control but some damage was made to the side-view mirrors.
Thornton reportedly jumped out of the car at this stage and ran over to another driver.
Mr Lang got out of his vehicle and walked over to the pair. Thornton used this opportunity to steal Mr Lang’s car and flee the scene.
Thornton then ruined Lang’s car on Pinewood Road a short time later and started walking back to town, officers say.
Thornton was charged with grand larceny, failure to stop for blue lights, and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. A judge denied bond for Thornton on Thursday
Here she was picked up by a tow truck driver who took her back to the wrecked car on Pinewood Road.
This was where authorities arrested Mia Thornton, and was the moment she escaped.
She slipped out of the handcuffs when in custody and fled using the patrol car.
Police say Thornton created more than $10,000 worth of damage to the patrol car and that Sumter Industrial Park needs around $15,000 worth of repairs.