Woman steals police cruiser, drives into river

A woman arrested for stealing gas from Agawa Indian Crafts north of the Sault stole an OPP cruiser and drove it into the Mississauga River near Blind River, police report tonight.

Police had arrested the woman east of Echo Bay, but she managed to escape from the caged part of the cruiser and then stole it while officers were completing their investigation nearby.

OPP used a spike belt to disable the stolen cruiser about nine kilometres west of Blind River.

The truck the woman was originally driving turned out to have been stolen in Alberta and had been used in a robbery there, police said.

The following is the full text of a news release issued tonight by the East Algoma Detachment of the OPP:

**************************************************************** Stolen police cruiser results in minor injuries

(Thompson Township – West of Blind River, Ontario) On Tuesday August 26, 2003 at approximately 3 p.m., the Sault Ste. Marie OPP arrested a female in Laird Township east of Echo Bay, Ontario for non-payment of gas at the Agawa Indian Crafts and Gas Station north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

While under arrest the female extricated herself from the caged area of the cruiser and stole the marked OPP cruiser while the officers were conducting an investigation at the scene.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the truck that the female had been driving was reported stolen from Alberta and was previously involved in a robbery.

A police pursuit was initiated eastbound on Highway 17 towards Blind River, Ontario.

The pursuit was called off by the Provincial Communications Sergeant due to safety concerns shortly after it began.

The stolen cruiser was followed at a safe distance and the spike belt was deployed approximately nine kilometers west of Blind River to disable the stolen cruiser.

The stolen cruiser left the roadway entering the Mississauga River.

Officers entered the water to remove the driver from the vehicle.

The female was treated and released for minor injuries from the Blind River District Health Center.

The female will attend Sault Ste. Marie bail court.

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