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Not again: Another thief takes a cop's gun
Amy Lee / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- A thief made off with a Detroit police officer's gun and private car at a Southfield gas station Sunday morning, the latest embarrassing episode for a department reeling from a week punctuated by prisoner escapes and gun thefts.
The off-duty officer, who was not identified, was pumping gas into her black Cadillac at the Citgo at Eight Mile and Evergreen around 10 a.m. Sunday when someone jumped into her car and drove off, said James Tate, police spokesman. Inside the car were the officer's purse, police badge and department-issued Glock, Tate said.
Police followed the car to Detroit, where they were involved in an accident with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of Charles and Mound roads, Tate said. An officer and the unidentified female driver suffered minor injuries, and the car thief was able to escape, Tate said.
Police found the off-duty officer's purse Sunday afternoon near the entrance to Marygrove College, minus the gun, he said.
"Her purse, along with the badge and other personal items, were recovered, but the gun was not and the vehicle was not," Tate said.
The theft marks the third time in less than a week that criminals have stolen guns from Detroit police officers or reserve officers.
Police said Detroiter Deandre Riley, 23, wrested a Glock from an officer early Wednesday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he had been taken because he complained he was ill. Riley carjacked an ambulance and fled, but was back in police custody by the end of the day.
That gun was recovered, and Riley is incarcerated and awaiting trial on several charges, including armed robbery and disarming a police officer.
And a Detroit reserve officer's gun was stolen while the officer was working out at a gym in Highland Park last week.
The officer's personal gun, a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson, was taken from his truck near Woodward and Six Mile, said John Roach, a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, which patrols Highland Park.
The police officer's badge was also stolen, Roach said.
Adding to the spate of incidents, officers said that on Saturday they grappled with yet another escapee when Tina Jones, 45, fled Detroit Receiving Hospital after an officer removed her handcuffs to allow her to use the restroom.
Jones, who was arrested in a drug case, fled about 2 p.m. but was back in police custody at 4:45 p.m., when her husband took her to the Central District office on Woodward Avenue, Tate said.
She remained in custody Sunday night.
Tate said both escape incidents are being investigated to ensure officers followed proper procedures.
"These are totally different situations. The policies are very well-written, but it's a matter of whether the policies were being heeded to," Tate said.
"Two is too many. They were in the care of officers, and it did happen in one week, but when you look at the overall numbers of people we deal with every day, you have to put it in perspective."
Not again: Another thief takes a cop's gun
Amy Lee / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- A thief made off with a Detroit police officer's gun and private car at a Southfield gas station Sunday morning, the latest embarrassing episode for a department reeling from a week punctuated by prisoner escapes and gun thefts.
The off-duty officer, who was not identified, was pumping gas into her black Cadillac at the Citgo at Eight Mile and Evergreen around 10 a.m. Sunday when someone jumped into her car and drove off, said James Tate, police spokesman. Inside the car were the officer's purse, police badge and department-issued Glock, Tate said.
Police followed the car to Detroit, where they were involved in an accident with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of Charles and Mound roads, Tate said. An officer and the unidentified female driver suffered minor injuries, and the car thief was able to escape, Tate said.
Police found the off-duty officer's purse Sunday afternoon near the entrance to Marygrove College, minus the gun, he said.
"Her purse, along with the badge and other personal items, were recovered, but the gun was not and the vehicle was not," Tate said.
The theft marks the third time in less than a week that criminals have stolen guns from Detroit police officers or reserve officers.
Police said Detroiter Deandre Riley, 23, wrested a Glock from an officer early Wednesday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he had been taken because he complained he was ill. Riley carjacked an ambulance and fled, but was back in police custody by the end of the day.
That gun was recovered, and Riley is incarcerated and awaiting trial on several charges, including armed robbery and disarming a police officer.
And a Detroit reserve officer's gun was stolen while the officer was working out at a gym in Highland Park last week.
The officer's personal gun, a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson, was taken from his truck near Woodward and Six Mile, said John Roach, a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, which patrols Highland Park.
The police officer's badge was also stolen, Roach said.
Adding to the spate of incidents, officers said that on Saturday they grappled with yet another escapee when Tina Jones, 45, fled Detroit Receiving Hospital after an officer removed her handcuffs to allow her to use the restroom.
Jones, who was arrested in a drug case, fled about 2 p.m. but was back in police custody at 4:45 p.m., when her husband took her to the Central District office on Woodward Avenue, Tate said.
She remained in custody Sunday night.
Tate said both escape incidents are being investigated to ensure officers followed proper procedures.
"These are totally different situations. The policies are very well-written, but it's a matter of whether the policies were being heeded to," Tate said.
"Two is too many. They were in the care of officers, and it did happen in one week, but when you look at the overall numbers of people we deal with every day, you have to put it in perspective."
