Columbus police officers are seeking information on the identity of a man who is accused of stealing a car and then striking an unoccupied CPD patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene of the crash early Thursday morning.
At about 6:45 a.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious person knocking on the doors of homes on Brookside Court, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
A CPD officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood a short time later and when the driver of the vehicle stepped out to speak with the officer, his unidentified passenger quickly got into the driver’s seat and took off in the silver Volkswagen Jetta, Harris said.
The suspect crashed into an unoccupied CPD patrol vehicle moments later before leaving the subdivision.
Officers saw the stolen Volkswagen a short time later and noted that the vehicle was traveling recklessly and the car had extensive front end damage.
The officers observed that the driver of stolen car was traveling at a high rate of speed without working headlights as it continued north on Jonesville Road towards the road construction area near State Road 46 and State Road 11, Harris said. Due to the heavy morning traffic, the officers opted to terminate the vehicle pursuit, Harris said.
Anyone with information on the location of the stolen vehicle and the identity of the driver is urged to contact the Columbus Police Department at (812) 376-2600. Tips and information may be submitted anonymously.
