Two family members accused of stealing Washtenaw County sheriff's patrol car
A ride to the homeless shelter turned into a joyride in a police car this evening after two family members stole a Washtenaw County sheriff's patrol car while a deputy wasn't looking, authorities said.
But they didn't get away with the deputy's car for long - it was found parked minutes later, and the man and woman were arrested.
Washtenaw County sheriff's spokesman Derrick Jackson said the deputy was called to the 100 block of Chestnut Boulevard in Scio Farms Estates shortly after 5 p.m. on a family trouble complaint.
A Washtenaw County sheriff's patrol car was stolen tonight.
The family was involved in a dispute over the living arrangements of two family members, Jackson said. The deputy agreed to drive the two to the Robert J. Delonis homeless shelter in downtown Ann Arbor.
The deputy placed the man and woman in the back of the patrol car to finish his investigation, Jackson said. But while the deputy was interviewing someone outside the vehicle, at least one of the two individuals in the back made it through the small window separating the front and back seats, Jackson said.
When the deputy looked up, his car was driving away.
"We're not sure how, but they wiggled through the window," Jackson said. "Still not sure why they did that."
The patrol car was found not far away minutes later, still running, Jackson said. The man and woman weren't inside, but they were soon found and arrested.
Jackson said they may have been trying to go to a friend's house instead of the homeless shelter.
Nothing was missing from the car, and it wasn't damaged, Jackson said.
The man and woman are being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on car theft charges and are expected to be arraigned Thursday. Jackson said he didn't know whether either has a criminal history.
Comments
Bekah
Sun, Jan 31, 2010 : 1:42 a.m.
If you want a look at their criminal history go to OTIS and do a search for Chris and Kathy Hahn (they spelled her name wrong... it should be Cathy)
Bekah
Sun, Jan 31, 2010 : 1:41 a.m.
These two were originally from Ann Arbor. Both have a criminal past. The Washtenaw county came out to the scene because the person at the residence requested them to. The two individuals had been staying with the woman at the residence because it was her daughter and son-in-law. Both had just been released from jail on drug and other related charges. The officer was actually inside the home when another individual inside the home watched as the car drove off. The two were drunk and high at the time. The woman driving the car needed to go to jail to be free of her husband who is the instigator for a lot of her problems but she can never get away. Now for the next few years she will be free of him and I will be free of the both of them. I will know that they are safe and sound for the time being. This was my sister and brother-in-law.
trunkmonkey
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.
The homeless flock to Ann Arbor because Ann Arbor hugs them. When they stand at the end of the exit ramps, I always see cars in front of me just handing out money to them. The sad part is that they make more money than you just from standing on the side of the road. Stop giving them hand outs and hugging them and they will leave. Most don't want to go to the shelter because the shelter won't let them drink and do drugs. Lifestyle choices?
Seasoned Cit
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:41 p.m.
Hey, County-wide Zip Car Service... Why not?
1973saline
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:02 p.m.
Since the Deputy worked for Washtenaw County and the shelter was paid for with County taxes why should he not be brought there?
tdw
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 12:29 p.m.
@mliverox Please explain "every other department in the area"
Lokalisierung
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.
Well this officer should be immediatly terminated from his job. I PAY his wage with MY taxes so HE works for ME. Can you have this kind of gross incompitence in the work place? Oh wait sorry...he just let somone steal his car...I thought he lit a firecracker; My bad.
mliverox
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.
This is what the Deputy gets for trying to dump his problems in A2 like every other department in the area.
krc
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 11:01 a.m.
Arbormom, call the police and report it! If they haven't been let go already, they may incur further charges from your experience.
fgeer247
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
I am sure that they wanted to go to the Hogback Hilton. It is warm, they can shower, and eat. Beats being in the cold. That was one way to confirm a reservation.
arbormom
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
The story that wasn't told was how this stolen car ran my family off Scio Church Road last night. I had four children in my car, driving west bound when that stolen car was racing toward us in our lane. The head lights were not on and it was traveling at a very high rate of speed. It was extremely scary that we had to drive off the road to avoid a head on crash. Thank God that we were okay.
walker101
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 10:17 a.m.
Hey, at least they were able to sleep in a nice jail cell.
David Briegel
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
They aren't homeless any more.
tdw
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:57 a.m.
Boy that deputy is is going to get ribbed for a long,long time by his/her co-workers
bob
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
@dconkey - police leave the cars running because of all the electronics inside the vehicle. He was standing next to the car and the 2 people were in the back....not expecting one of them to climb thru the little divider window.
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:44 a.m.
did they drive it like they stole it?
Awakened
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
@ Sarcastic1. The Delonis Shelter is actually THE county-wide shelter. The original plan was to put it at Stone School and Ellsworth. Unfortunately they wouldn't have access to the resources at that location. You will see every police department in the county dumping their problems here. And some departments outside the county. The staff at the Delonis shelter do a great job handling the people those police departments can't. And when they are unable handle the flotsom and jetsom of the county's un-policable they call the AAPD who has to clean up after everyone else. And then deal with the new 'residents' for days, weeks or months. We should be proud of both of those agencies for the work they do and they quality service they provide. Now if you want to discuss if the decision to put the shelter in downtown A2 was a good one.... that is another discussion.
survivor
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.
They were looking for a foreclosed home to occupy. Set them free.
dconkey
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.
And why were the keys to the car not with the officer?
Sarcastic1
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 6:13 a.m.
The Sheriff bringing more homeless to Ann Arbor, priceless.
d obryan
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 2:59 a.m.
they just needed a ride.they borrowed it