LOS ANGELES -- A man stole a police cruiser and then crashed it into a light pole and a Starbucks in Mid-City, losing one of his legs, police said.
The 25-year-old man stole the cruiser around 4 a.m. from the area of Adams and La Brea, according to LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez.
LAPD Southwest Division officers were at the location investigating an assault with a deadly weapon and a robbery, Lopez said.
While the officers were out of their vehicles, an unrelated suspect got into one of the unattended cars an stole it, taking off northbound on La Brea.
About three to five minutes later, authorities received a call from a witness at La Brea and San Vicente who saw a squad car lose control and crash into a pole and a Starbucks.
The witness reported that the cruiser was traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph, according to Lopez.
The suspect was ejected from the vehicle in the crash.
Police responded and found the suspect outside the cruiser with a severed leg, Lopez said.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Lopez said there is no policy that says officers can't leave a vehicle with the engine running or unlocked, but that it's not recommended.
"It's incident-driven," Lopez explained. "There are cases where officers need to get out of their cars quickly and, for tactical reasons, need to leave the car in that condition."
So tell me....was the thrill of stealing that cop car REALLY worth losing your leg???
The 25-year-old man stole the cruiser around 4 a.m. from the area of Adams and La Brea, according to LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez.
LAPD Southwest Division officers were at the location investigating an assault with a deadly weapon and a robbery, Lopez said.
While the officers were out of their vehicles, an unrelated suspect got into one of the unattended cars an stole it, taking off northbound on La Brea.
About three to five minutes later, authorities received a call from a witness at La Brea and San Vicente who saw a squad car lose control and crash into a pole and a Starbucks.
The witness reported that the cruiser was traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph, according to Lopez.
The suspect was ejected from the vehicle in the crash.
Police responded and found the suspect outside the cruiser with a severed leg, Lopez said.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Lopez said there is no policy that says officers can't leave a vehicle with the engine running or unlocked, but that it's not recommended.
"It's incident-driven," Lopez explained. "There are cases where officers need to get out of their cars quickly and, for tactical reasons, need to leave the car in that condition."
So tell me....was the thrill of stealing that cop car REALLY worth losing your leg???
