Suspect Uses Handcuffs to Hot-Wire Wash. Patrol Car Window and Escape

Thurston County sheriff's deputies thought a domestic violence suspect was secured in the back of a patrol vehicle until he dismantled part of the door, rolled down the disabled window and fled on foot.

By Ty Vinson

Source The Sacramento Bee

Oct. 7, 2026

2 min read

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Thurston County sheriff's deputies arrested a 44-year-old man for allegedly violating a domestic violence protection order and burglary before he escaped from the back of a patrol vehicle.
The suspect allegedly moved his handcuffed hands to the front, pried off an interior door panel and used the metal handcuffs to activate a disabled window switch, allowing him to flee.
After a multi-hour search that included a second reported burglary, a K-9 tracked the suspect to a spot under a porch, where deputies recaptured him.

Handcuffs — A suspect arrested on domestic violence and burglary allegations escaped from a Thurston County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle after allegedly using his metal handcuffs to roll down a disabled window before leading deputies on a lengthy search.

A Sheriff’s Office in Washington state arrested a 44-year-old man on Monday after he allegedly violated a domestic violence protection order then escaped from a patrol vehicle after he was arrested.

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders posted on social media about the incident at 8:44 p.m. Oct. 5. He said Sheriff’s Office units responded to the Tumwater area for a “domestic violence order violation burglary in progress.”

According to jail logs, the arrest took place at around 6:08 p.m. on Kinney Road near Black Lake.

Sanders said the suspect initially refused to come outside, but he eventually surrendered and was placed under arrest in the back of a patrol car.

He said while deputies were waiting on scene for the victim, the suspect moved his cuffed hands to the front and pried the interior door panel off. He then used the metal handcuffs to short out the disabled window switch, which rolled the window down.

“This patrol car was an older vehicle in the fleet and was not equipped with window bars,” Sanders said.

The man fled on foot while handcuffed, Sanders said, which led to a multi-hour manhunt. Sanders said the man burglarized a second house and stole tools and clothes.

Sanders said he arrived on scene to assist deputies who were unable to secure additional resources to find the suspect. He said air support was not available, and K-9 Mac had started to become fatigued. Then a single shot rang out nearby.

“I located a homeowner who advised they fired a warning shot to get our attention before pointing us in the direction the suspect fled toward,” Sanders said. “After a short track, K9 Mac located the suspect under a porch and apprehended him. The suspect had a pair of pliers stuck to the handcuffs when he was re-captured.”

Sanders said the man was booked into jail on suspicion of violating a domestic violence protection order, residential burglary with domestic violence, malicious mischief and second-degree escape.

Sanders said he has never heard of a suspect hot wiring a disabled window switch with their metal handcuffs.

“... This is a great example as to why the decision was made in 2023 to invest money into our patrol car fleet,” he said. “All of our patrol vehicles come with window bars now.”

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