HOUSTON --Deputies had to chase down one of their own cruisers Wednesday night in Atascocita after a handcuffed man managed to escape in it.
Precinct 4 deputies said it started when they arrested a man, Robert Paul Cantrell,who was in a stolen car. He was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a cruiser.
But somehow they saidCantrell climbed into the front seat and drove away, leading deputies crashing through several back yards and fences until he bailed out just before the cruiser crashed into a gully.
I heard a bang and I seen a Charger -- a police car -- flying through here, said Marcus Lafayette, a witness. But I didn't see anyone that they were trying to apprehend so I was wondering what was going on.
Deputies were able to re-arrest Cantrell, who they said has a long criminal history that includes several auto theft convictions.
He was charged with two counts of auto theft and one count of escape. His bond was set at $40,000.
There were no injuries reported.
