NEW HAVEN, Conn — A man hijacked a New Haven police cruiser with an officer in the passenger seat Sunday night, according to the city's police department.
Stacey Footman, 49, is facing charges of larceny in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, assault of public safety personnel, criminal trover in the second degree and interfering with an officer.
At 10:43 p.m. Sunday, New Haven Police Officer Rios and Officer Roch had parked a cruiser at the police substation on Congress Avenue, police said. Roch remained seated in the passenger's side writing a report while Rios was inside the building.
Footman, who was known to officers in the district from previous arrests and interactions, went over to the driver's side of the cruiser and started yelling at Roch to get out, according to police.
After Roch unlocked the cruiser doors to leave the vehicle, Footman opened the driver's side door and went into the driver's seat, despite Roch attempting to push him out, police said.
As Footman put the cruiser in drive and accelerated, police said Roch pulled the car's steering wheel to prevent it from crashing into people or other vehicles. The cruiser immediately crashed into the Deliverance Temple Church on Congress Avenue, across from the substation.
Rios arrested Footman for the charges related to the incident, as well as two warrants that were outstanding. According to police, Footman was holding onto a small glass pipe after the crash.
Both Rios and Footman had minor injuries, police said. Roch was released while Footman is in the hospital under police guard on a $500,000 bond.
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Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com.
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