A Connecticut man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a police car with an officer inside before crashing the vehicle into a church. Stacey Footman, 49, was caught on camera entering the driver’s side of the car and driving away.
The charges against Footman include second degree larceny, second degree kidnapping, assault of a public safety personnel, second degree criminal trover, and interfering with an officer.
In security footage from Sunday night, Footman can be seen approaching the driver’s side vehicle, which was parked outside of a police substation on Congress Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut.
Police say that an officer was seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle writing a police report while his partner was inside. The officer said that Footman was yelling at him to get out of the car. When the officer unlocked the car’s doors to get out and speak with Footman, Footman quickly opened the driver’s side door and entered the vehicle.
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The car can then be seen in the security footage driving away. The officer’s partner can be seen exiting the building and running after the vehicle.
The officer in the cruiser said that he feared Footman might hit another car or pedestrian, so he pulled the vehicle’s steering wheel. The police cruiser then crashed into Deliverance Temple Pentecostal Church.
ChurchLeaders has reached out to Deliverance Temple Pentecostal Church for comment and will update this article in the event of a reply.
Footman and the officer both sustained injuries during the crash. Footman is being held at a local hospital under police guard. His bond has been set at $500,000.
The officer has been discharged from the hospital.
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Police say that Footman had in his possession a small glass pipe. According to FOX61, police in the area are familiar with Footman, and Footman had previously been arrested for other offenses.
