Squad Car Briefly Stolen During Traffic Stop

A Cook County sheriff's squad car was briefly stolen by a man who led police on an unusual chase after a traffic stop Friday evening near the Stickney-Chicago border.

The incident began about 5 p.m. near 47th Street and Knox Avenue in an unincorporated area between Chicago and Stickney, according to a Cook County Sheriff's office release.

An officer was attempting to pull the driver over when he continued to drive for two more blocks, finally pulling over at 47th Street and Kenneth Avenue, the release said. As he pulled to the side, a Chicago Police officer arrived on the scene for back up.

But instead of pulling over to be questioned, the motorist put his vehicle in reverse and struck the sheriff's police squad. He then ran from his vehicle on foot and both the Chicago and Cook County Sheriff's officer chased him on foot.

The man doubled-back and jumped into the empty sheriff's police squad, driving east on 47th Street, police said. The backup Chicago officer got back into his vehicle and chased the man down an alley at Harding Street.

The man then stopped the sheriff's squad and again ran away. The Chicago officer chased him again and eventually was able to capture and take him into custody about five minutes after the original traffic stop, the release said.

The sheriff's officer who attempted to make the traffic stop is a 17-year employee of the Cook County Sheriff's office and has worked as a police officer since 2004, the release said. He is being treated for minor injuries.

Charges were pending Friday night.