Suspect arrested after stealing police cruiser

 

 

What started out as an afternoon New Year’s Eve family dispute ended up with a suspect giving chase in, of all things, a police car.

   Officers for the Bogata Police Department were initially called Dec. 31 to investigate a dispute between family members. After resolving tensions, one of the family members abruptly made a dash for one of the department’s cruisers.  

   “The suspect already had a bag packed because she was planning to leave before we were called to the scene,” Bogata Police Chief David Short explained. “At some point after we had cleared the scene, at about 3 p.m., she just jumped in the car and took off.”

   Driving to the southeastern part of Talco, Erika Camille Blackwell, 29, was finally stopped with spike strips and arrested by Department of Public Safety troopers with assistance from deputies from the Titus County Sheriff’s Office and the Red River Sheriff’s Office. She was later taken into custody at the Red River County Jail and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle ($10,000 bond) and reckless driving ($5,000 bond).