Dallas Cruiser Heist
Dallas Suspect Escapes Handcuffs, Steals Police Cruiser with Officer Trapped
Dallas police released body-camera and dash footage showing Stacey Huffman, 37, allegedly freeing one hand from his handcuffs during a traffic stop on May 30 and commandeering a patrol car while an officer was trapped in the back seat. Police say Huffman slipped his hand from the restraints, attempted to get out of the vehicle, and then climbed into the driver’s seat and drove off with the officer still inside. Officers stopped the car on northbound I-35 near Illinois Avenue, but authorities say a Taser attempt was ineffective after Huffman pulled the wires away, and an officer struck him with a duty weapon as he continued driving recklessly. Police said the cruiser accelerated to about 50 mph and traveled roughly 1,000 feet before Huffman jumped out of the moving vehicle, after which officers regained control without an accident. Huffman had been arrested during the stop on charges including drug and firearm-related allegations and driving/registration violations, according to police.
Key Points
Dallas Police identified the two officers involved in the initial stop as Ibrahim Kante and Kenneth Harper, which began around 5:35 p.m. on May 30 in the 2300 block of South Marsalis Avenue for a registration violation; Huffman was arrested on suspicion of driving with an invalid license, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Body-camera/dash footage described by police shows Huffman not only freeing one hand, but also hiding his hands behind his back; during transport, police said he attempted to open the locked rear door and removed his seatbelt before taking control of the car.
As the suspect fled, police said Officer Harper managed to get into the back seat and repeatedly ordered him to stop—“Stop the car!”—before deploying a Taser that Harper said was ineffective after Huffman pulled the wires away; during this phase, police said Officer Kante remained outside the vehicle.
Police said the driving was violent enough to physically toss Officer Harper around in the back seat, and video coverage described Harper being “violently tossed” as the patrol car swerved while Huffman continued driving recklessly.
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