Wife stole police car while her husband was handcuffed in the back seat

An Alaska State Trooper vehicle was stolen while a suspect sat in the back seat. Big Lake resident Joshua Watford, 38, was arrested by troopers at around 2:30pm on Wednesday on an outstanding warrant after he was seen at a local pawn shop.

According to troopers, he was “cuffed and secured” in the back seat of a trooper vehicle when the arresting officer struck up a conversation with a passing motorist. As the officer spoke with the motorist, Amber Watford, 28, allegedly jumped into the vehicle and drove off with Joshua Watford still in the back seat.



The vehicle was stolen at around 2:45pm, according to AST spokeswoman Megan Peters. “We had a suspect detained in the back and another suspect was able to enter the vehicle and drive away,” Peters said. The trooper vehicle was located, “unoccupied and undamaged,” a short time in the Big Lake area.

A search of the area involving AST, a trooper helicopter, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and an Anchorage police K-9 unit was eventually called-off at 6:30pm on Wednesday. At around 7:30pm on Thursday, authorities found and arrested the couple at a Wasilla home on Alvin’s Alley. The Watfords were arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and other charges, including hindering prosecution and criminal mischief.