Handcuffed Suspect Escapes Police Car At 55 MPH

Man Suffers Minor Injuries

POSTED: Wednesday, May 24, 2006

UPDATED: 1:52 pm CDT May 24, 2006

HOUSTON -- A man under arrest kicked out the window of a Houston police car and escaped while the vehicle traveled at 55 mph -- all while he was handcuffed, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Police said the man was taken into custody Wednesday at about 10:30 a.m. for trespassing in southwest Houston after he was spotted climbing over fences and on top of houses.

On the way to jail, the handcuffed prisoner was able to get his feet up and kick out the police car window, according to authorities, before he threw himself out of the car and into the left northbound lane of the Southwest Freeway. Officers said he then ran across five lanes of traffic and jumped off the freeway to the lanes below.

Police cornered the escapee at Westpark Drive and Alder and had to user a Taser gun to subdue him, according to officials.

The man was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

He told officers that he escaped because he wanted a drink of water.

Charges of escape and damage to a police vehicle are pending.

The suspect's name was not released.

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