Around 8 p.m. on Monday, an officer with the Tulsa Police Department left her car to go on a coffee break. According to police, she left the car unlocked with the key in the ignition. John Pinney, 25, walked by and having noticed the unlocked patrol car, he decided to take it for a ride.
Shortly after the alleged theft, police found out where the car had been. A woman called 911 after Pinney pulled alongside her and offered to give her a lift. She declined and the car took off. The car was quickly located and the chase was on.
The police pursuit lasted about 40 minutes and went through three different counties while reaching speeds of up to 120 mph. The Tulsa PD was joined by the Skiatook police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. It was a particularly bad night to engage in a high-speed police chase as it was Halloween and a lot of children were out on the streets. Luckily no one was injured.
When police began to close in on Pinney, he decided he would head to his father’s house. After reaching the home he got out of the car and was arrested by Skiatook police after a brief struggle.
The officer who left the patrol car unlocked was kind enough to leave her iPad in the vehicle and Pinney thought it would be fun to stream his exploits on Facebook Live. Altogether he uploaded four videos showing him talking about various topics such as taking the car and his life in prison.
At one point Pinney said he cannot believe he did what he did and seemed proud of the fact he had already gotten away from five cops. He looked for the button to activate the siren, eventually found it and turned it on. Pinney also turned the radio on and sang along with a country song. The 25-year-old said he took the police car because he had nothing else to do except read (expletive) books. At one point, Pinney stopped the car at a smoke shop and got out of the vehicle so he could show viewers his “brand new car.”
Tulsa World reports records show Pinney is currently serving a suspended sentence for assault and battery on a police officer. That sentence does not expire until 2020. He is also on probation for receiving stolen property, larceny of an automobile and possession of stolen property.
After his latest alleged exploits, Pinney was booked into the Tulsa Jail. He has been charged with eluding police, resisting arrest, larceny of a motor vehicle, impersonation of a public officer, driving with a revoked licence and driving while not wearing a seat belt. He was also charged with two counts possession of a firearm for two loaded guns left in the trunk by the officer whose car he stole.
According to Jeanne MacKenzie, a spokeswoman for the Tulsa PD, it is not uncommon for officers to leave keys in the ignition in case they have to respond to an emergency. But it is uncertain at this time whether the officer involved will face disciplinary action.
