Man who tried to steal police car unaware of officer behind wheel ended up sitting on his lap

A suspected car thief trying to run from police in Tacoma, Washington, got a surprise when he tried to steal a police patrol car and ended up sitting on an officer’s lap.



Fife police Lt. Tom Thompson said the man was spotted acting suspiciously near a motel at around 8:30pm on Tuesday, so a patrol sergeant stopped to check the licence on the car he was driving. It came back as stolen. As the sergeant followed the suspect, identified as David Boulet, Boulet jumped from the car and ran.

Police said Boulet climbed a fence and ran through traffic in both the north and southbound lanes of Interstate 5, dodging cars. Meanwhile, a Tacoma police officer, hearing the chase over the radio, stopped on the Port of Tacoma road overpass and turned on his red and blue lights. Thompson said Boulet ran from the freeway through heavy brush and onto the overpass, apparently looking for a getaway car.



He spotted the patrol car with lights flashing, ran towards it, pulled the door open, got in and sat down on the officer’s lap, apparently unaware that the officer was still behind the wheel. Thompson said the officer was stunned at first, then recognised Boulet’s description as the suspect leading police on a foot pursuit. Boulet was wrestled to the ground and placed under arrest.

With news video.