Man Slips Handcuffs, Steals Police Car Before Capture

An Orange police officer dispatched to a traffic accident became an unwitting crime victim Sunday night when his police cruiser was stolen by a suspected drunk driver who crashed the vehicle after being chased by a small fleet of police cars, authorities said.

The suspect, 21-year-old Gregorio Farfan of Orange, was booked into Orange County Jail after being taken into custody a second time.

Police Lt. Timm Browne said the incident began about 9 p.m. when officers responded to a one-car accident in the 3400 block of East Collins Avenue.

The driver of the red 1986 Nissan Pulsar fled from the scene on foot, prompting officers to chase him for about two blocks.

After apprehending the suspect, officers handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police cruiser, where paramedics treated him for minor cuts suffered in the accident, Browne said.

Browne said officers who were “attending to the traffic accident were amazed” to see the suspect drive off in the police car.

Farfan had apparently slipped his handcuffs and forced his way through a steel and plexiglass partition separating the back seat from the driver’s seat, Browne said.

Several police cars, their sirens wailing and emergency lights flashing, took off in pursuit of the vehicle, Browne said.

The suspect made several turns to elude his pursuers, Browne said.

He collided with a parked vehicle in the 1000 block of Adams Avenue, but kept going. A few minutes later, he rammed the vehicle into a chain-link fence at the intersection of Meats Avenue and Cambridge Street.

He jumped out of the disabled police car, hopped over another chain-link fence, and ran across a well-lighted golf course driving range, Browne said.

Three golfers helped officers to corner the suspect.

Once again, the suspect was handcuffed and was later taken to the Orange County Jail.

“It’s a pretty incredible thing to have happened,” Browne said. “The officers were amazed as anybody to watch their vehicle drive off.”