Cherry Hill suspect steals and torches patrol car

Cherry Hill police say a burglary suspect who was fleeing from pursuing officers stole a patrol car early Sunday and later crashed it.

The incident began around 3:50 a.m., when police responded to a reported burglary at a Best Buy store, said Lt. William Kushina, a police spokesman. Authorities soon learned that three people had used a stolen car to smash the store's garage doors open and were loading televisions into a stolen van when police arrived on scene.

One suspect then fled in the car, while the other two drove off in the van in another direction. Police immediately began pursuing both vehicles.

A short time later, the driver of the car bailed out and ran off on foot with officers in pursuit. The suspect soon found an unattended patrol car and drove off in it, Kushina said.

The crashed cruiser was later found on fire at Broadway and Ferry Avenue in Camden, but the suspect had fled the scene and remained at large early Sunday night.

Meanwhile, officers pursued the stolen van through several towns before it was stopped in Evesham Township. The two people in the van then fled on foot.

An Evesham police dog later tracked down a female suspect and she was arrested, but the other suspect eluded capture and remained at large early Sunday night. Kushina would not immediately disclose further information about the woman, including her identity or what charges she may be facing, citing the ongoing investigation.

Kushina said an internal departmental review would be conducted to determine the "facts and circumstances" that led to the theft of the police car.