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Woman slips cuffs, steals officer's car
She and man were detained after call about stolen car
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Published: June 3, 2009
TROUTMAN - Police say that a Mocksville woman managed to get out of her handcuffs and drive off in a patrol car she was being held in Monday night in the southwestern Iredell County town of Troutman.
Amanda Simmons, 27, of Mocksville faces charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and resist, obstruct and delay, along with outstanding warrants from Davie County for financial card fraud and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
A second person, Jeremy White, 29, also of Mocksville, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and resist, obstruct and delay.
Troutman Police Chief Matthew Selves said that officers responded to a call at a gas and convenience store on North Main Street on Monday after a man there said he spotted a co-worker's vehicle that had been stolen from Davie County.
Officers arrived and detained the two people in the 2001 Dodge Durango, which officers confirmed was reported stolen.
Simmons was handcuffed and placed in the back of one patrol car, which was an older vehicle and not equipped with a cage, Selves said.
White was place in another vehicle while the two officers stood outside the cars as they waited for dispatchers to confirm the arrests with Davie County.
Simmons, who was handcuffed behind her back and belted into the car with a seat belt, unbuckled the belt and ripped her cuffs off, Selves said. She then climbed between the seats and took off in the patrol car.
The second officer pursued Simmons in his vehicle and found the stolen patrol car abandoned in front of a vacant building at a shopping center.
The other officer was given a ride to the area by a citizen and found Simmons near the entrance of a nearby building.
Her wrists were bleeding from ripping the cuffs off.
She requested and received medical assistance, Selves said.
The second officer also had to call for backup to control the other suspect, White, who began to struggle during the search for Simmons.
Selves said that both suspects were then taken into custody without further incident, and the Durango was returned to its owner in Mocksville.
■ Donna Swicegood writes for the Statesville Record & Landmark
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