A Rhode Island man was caught on surveillance footage stealing a cop automobile after entering into an altercation with an officer.
Ishmael Lee, 34, was arrested on Tuesday after absconding with the stolen police car.
The officer was patrolling when he observed two males, one in every of whom was Lee, driving Slingshots.
Because the police officer was observing the Slingshot riders, Lee crashed into somebody who was driving an electrical scooter.
Native station WPRI reviews:
Whereas talking with the sufferer and Lee, the officer observed Lee had taken the satchel he was sporting off and looped it across the handlebar of his Slingshot. Lee then tried to distance himself from it as he continued speaking to the officer, in keeping with the report.
Because the officer believed Lee may be carrying a weapon, the report said he tried to pat the bag down the bag for his security earlier than permitting Lee to seize his identification.
However Lee took off working with the satchel earlier than the officer might pat it down, in keeping with the report. The officer chased him across the nook onto Colfax Road, the place the 2 briefly struggled earlier than Lee broke free and stored working.
The report mentioned {that a} firearm fell out of Lee’s satchel as he was escaping, so the officer secured the weapon whereas calling for backup.
At this level, Lee jumped into the officer’s cruiser and sped off.
Lee didn’t go far earlier than leaping out of the car and making an attempt to get away on foot. He was shortly positioned by officers and brought into custody.
Lee has been charged with easy assault, motorized vehicle theft, possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, reckless driving and obstruction of justice. His bail was set by a decide at $20,000.
