Woman Steals DC Housing Authority Cruiser, Goes to Virginia

Authorities stopped a stolen police car involved in a slow speed chase along Route 7 in Alexandria, Virginia.

A woman, 26, from Stafford, Virginia, who was in custody of the D.C. Housing Authority somehow gained control of a marked police car in Washington, according to police sources. The woman was arrested for violating a judicial order to stay away from the Garfield Terrace Housing Complex.

Richard White, director of the Office of Public Affairs and Communication for the D.C. Housing Authority, said in a series of tweets the woman was arrested in the 2300 block of 11th Street, Northwest, by a DCHA officer.

He said the officer secured the woman in handcuffs and placed her in the rear of the cruiser. As the officer was outside of the cruiser, the woman climbed through a small partition window, made her way to the driver's seat and fled with the vehicle.

Police said the cruiser fled through the 3rd Street tunnel, striking about 10 other vehicles. The woman drove the cruiser into Virginia, along I-395 to Route 7.

Police were able to stop the cruiser on the 395 ramp to Route 7 (King Street) along the Arlington/Alexandria line and regain control of the woman and the car.

At the site of the initial arrest, police said the woman told officers she was pregnant. They said a small amount of suspected narcotics were also found during a search.