Truesee's Daily Wonder

Joy ride in police car leads to arrest

remote to the car door opening and the deputies think he was hiding in the bushes next to the car," McCloskey said of Anderson.

Other agencies follow the same procedure for leaving their car.

"A lot of times when officers respond to calls, it's not unusual to secure a car and leave it running," Farmington Police Lt. Vince Mitchell said.

There is a way to lock it and leave it running, which ensures the in-car camera is recording, he said. If the car is off, the camera won't work.

The deputy heard the door open and the vehicle began backing up rapidly.

The deputy pursued on foot after the police vehicle backed away, the Sheriff's Office said. The second deputy also chased after the stolen vehicle, but lost sight of it.

The in-car camera showed the suspect drive away at a high rate of speed down dirt roads for approximately two minutes before abandoning the car and leaving on foot. The stolen vehicle was found 30 minutes later near a well site about one mile from where it was taken.

No equipment was missing and the vehicle sustained minor scratches after being driven through sagebrush.

A distinct set of footprints led away from the vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies eventually located several people hiding in the bushes near the party site and they identified a possible suspect.

About three hours later, deputies located a male walking down New Mexico 173 who matched the description of the suspect, the Sheriff's Office said.

Stealing a police car is a rarity, especially when there is another officer sitting right there, McCloskey said.

Anderson was advised of his rights and admitted to taking the police vehicle because he thought it would be fun, the Sheriff's Office said.