Newly released footage captures a routine Dallas arrest turning into a runaway police-cruiser emergency on the freeway.
Present-day developments: Dig out the truly astounding footage of a handcuffed suspect taking control of a Dallas police vehicle and driving away—with an officer still trapped in the back seat.
According to police, the May 30 incident began with a traffic stop in the 2300 block of South Marsalis Avenue. Officers arrested 37-year-old Stacey Huffman and placed him in the rear of the patrol vehicle.
Police say Huffman managed to free his left hand from the restraints, concealed what he had done and later removed his seat belt while officers transported him to jail.
A traffic stop becomes a freeway emergency captured through police body and dash cameras.
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When the officers stopped on northbound Interstate 35 near Illinois Avenue to secure him again, Huffman allegedly climbed into the front seat and began driving away.
Not before one officer made a split-second decision: he climbed into the rear of the cruiser before it sped away.
The officer deployed his Taser, but police say Huffman pulled away the wires and continued driving erratically at speeds reaching approximately 50 miles per hour. The officer was thrown across the back seat while repeatedly ordering him to stop.
Huffman eventually opened the driver-side door and jumped from the moving cruiser, leaving the patrol vehicle continuing down the freeway without anyone properly positioned behind the wheel.
The officer then lunged forward, grabbed the steering wheel to avoid another vehicle and crawled toward the front floorboard to press the brake pedal by hand.
Both the officer and Huffman were taken to a hospital. The officer was later released. At the time authorities released the footage, Huffman remained hospitalized and was expected to face additional charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and escape from custody, along with the charges connected to the original arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Press play on the body-camera and dash-camera footage right below.
Watch the Dallas police-cruiser escape unfold on camera.
The newly released footage shows the suspect moving into the driver’s seat, the officer attempting to stop him from the back and the cruiser continuing down the freeway after the suspect jumps from the moving vehicle.
Sources: The Dallas Police Department released the body-camera and dash-camera footage and incident details; WFAA presented the accompanying Texas News Now report.
