Watch: Handcuffed suspect makes off with squad car
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (AP) - A handcuffed theft suspect left alone in a squad car managed to roll down a window, open the car door and drive off with the vehicle, leaving police in one North Texas town still scrambling to find him three days later.
Dash cam video from another vehicle caught 41-year-old Darren Porter getting out of the backseat of a car in White Settlement, west of Fort Worth.
Police had detained Porter Friday morning, on accusations that he had broken into an antiques shop. He was handcuffed and placed into the back of a Ford Crown Victoria police car, police said.
Squad cars are supposed to have the window switches in the back of the car disabled, but not this one, Lt. J.P. Bevering said Monday morning. Porter was able to roll down the window, reach out and open the door. Dash cam video shows him climbing into the driver's seat and taking off.
The car was found abandoned at a nearby apartment complex, Bevering said. Porter remained at large Monday.
"He's known to us because we've dealt with him several times," Bevering said.
Kenny Boone, owner of Texas Gas Antiques & Collectibles, said he was meeting with police inside when he saw an officer running across his parking lot.
"Of course, they all jumped in their cars," Boone said. "They were all scrambling to their vehicles to chase him."
White Settlement police arrested Porter as recently as April on an assault charge. According to online court records, he pleaded guilty to a different charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Porter has a criminal history dating back more than two decades that includes arrests for several burglaries and thefts.
He did not have a working phone number listed.
I notice they edited out the cops coming back and and pulling the "Dude, where's my car??!" portion.
His scrawny butt had a sudden urge for doughnuts as soon as he got behind the wheel so he ditched the car and hstled on over to the Krispy Kreme....
I can't help but lol at this. Working back seat windows in a squad car, suspect left unattended, and no LoJack. Maybe they should bring police in from another state to handle this matter.
 @JohnQ.Public It's Texas. Need I say more?
Is that OUR Jen????????
 @WendyTeagarden Yes, Wendy honey... it's me. How ya doin?
Why was he cuffed with his hands in front?
 @lorivance It's possible he slipped his cuffs but I'm afraid you're right.  It's hard to believe that some officers still cuff in front.
I would say the Cruiser was "totaled" not abandoned.
"41-year-old Darren Porter"
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I'd say he's made a few mistakes along the way.
 @Kushfan Faulty decision making processes, Kush.
Like not coming to OFFBEAT for like 6 months?
 @WendyTeagarden If I had a note, it would be forged, Wendy. My mom is illiterate.
 @Kushfan If only. Kinda under the weather for a while. Finally feeling like kicking the Rockette over and rolling the throttle back. Got a few more weeks and I'm all over it. How ya been Kush?
 @Kushfan Been a little busy, Kush.Â
I'm thinking Jen just now got back from Sturgis.
@Kushfan  Maybe she has a note from her______________.
@Kushfan - just bumps in the road dude....
The other cop couldn't catch him as he was too busy doing donuts in the street (8:40) on the tape.
 @WendyTeagarden Obviously they spliced the tape (terminology from the old day's when they use to use real film). I've seen this before many times in my life (i'm 23 yrs.old). Cutting out evidence is nothing new (8:40). Although the editing is done in a much different way (In today's digital world it's just a cut/cut DELETE situating that can be mastered with just a little practice), disposing of evidence is an ongoing thing practiced by many a good doughnut eater! I learned my lesson (s) at an early age. I'll never forget when my ont asked me if I knew anything about a missing doughnut and I quickly replied with a big NO. Unfortunately I had evidence all over my lips. After she slapped my mouth clean, I knew I would never eat another doughnut without wiping the evidence from my lips again, now I just have to remember to roll up my sleeves and hope the evidence does not appear on tape (memory card in today's real world) and posted on my ont's fb. If this happens, it's my fault! I know better than to leak incriminating evidence of my own bad doughnut eating habits without first checking the tape (memory card in today's high tech world of digital video). With that said, I hope I was able to help you and all the other's who love a long boring, but factual read, understand the importance of a conscientious effort that can leave one exhausted. Nice to talk with you Wendy!
 @WendyTeagarden I think they did a splice in the tapes, they recovered the video from the squad car, and then spliced it together.
 @WendyTeagarden Well in this case they spliced the digital images.
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"He did not have a working phone number listed."
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Did you try calling him on the squad radio?
@Kushfan They were using semaphore signals
 @WendyTeagarden  @Kushfan Good one, Wendy.
 @Kushfan Guys like this use pay phones and throw away cells... if only police cars were as handy.
Dude, where's my car??????
An epic film.
"He's known to us because we've dealt with him several times."
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It appears this guy has kept trying to go back to jail for the last 20 years; he should be granted his wish.
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas????
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What year is this, 1955?
@Kushfan Isn't this Wrench's hood?...Wait a minute....could Wrench's real name be Darrel Porter????
 @beernpizza  @Kushfan Please say it ain't so... I'd be really depressed to know that Wrench lived in that tumbleweed town.
@Kushfan I'm sure it is MILES away from Brownsville.....
next time look up Cut and Shoot, TX. I kid you not.
Yeah, like that's unusual.Â
@Kushfan See. Told ya so.
237 mi from White Settlement. Â
In between Houston & Huntsville.
Well let me google map it.
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548 miles. Â Just outside Ft Worthless.