Search continues in New Jersey for suspect who briefly stole police vehicle with K-9 inside
The narcotics-trained police dog, named Dunkin, was not harmed during this incident, officials said.
WEST DEPTFORD, New Jersey (WPVI) -- The suspect who stole a police SUV in southern New Jersey before ditching the vehicle near a golf course remains at large.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday that a Harrison Twp. police vehicle with a K-9 inside was stolen in Paulsboro around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Harrison Twp. police were in the area as part of a violence reduction initiative, officials say.
Witnesses at Jacob's Pizza said they noticed what appeared to be a traffic stop across from the restaurant on North Commerce Street.
"They took the guy out of the car and everything," said an employee who did not want to be identified.
The employee took a video of the incident, which shows a K-9 being walked toward the patrol car.
She said a short time after the video was taken, she saw the suspect jump into the driver's seat of the K-9 SUV and speed away with the dog inside.
"He was in front of the car - he was in front of the other car, and then ran to the back and then got in the K-9 car and fled," she said. "I mean for me, it was crazy. I never thought I'd see someone steal a police car."
The suspect bailed after approximately 15 minutes in the car and left the vehicle at a parking lot off Kings Highway in West Deptford.
The narcotics-trained police dog, named Dunkin, was not harmed during this incident, the prosecutor's office said.
After the suspect abandoned the vehicle he fled on foot, cutting through the Westwood Golf Course in West Deptford, New Jersey, officials say.
Chopper 6 was over the golf course as police swarmed the area.
"We did hear the helicopter above and went outside, and you could see it hovering right over this general vicinity for a little while," said Kelly Fisherkeller from West Deptford.
As this was happening, a shelter-in-place order was put in effect for residents in the Greenfields section and Kings Highway section of West Deptford as police searched for the suspect.
That order was lifted a short time later, but suspect remains on the run.
Neighbors in the area say there are many places to hide nearby.
"At the end of this street, it backs up to one of the holes on the golf course, and then the golf course is completely surrounded by wooded areas," said Fisherkeller. "And then there's the train tracks that you could follow down to other neighboring towns."
Police describe the suspect as approximately 5'7" tall in his mid-30s, wearing a black shirt and green camo pants.
Officials posted on Facebook Wednesday that the suspect was identified, the incident is under control, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office is handling the ongoing investigation.
They also stated there is no threat to the public at this time.
