By Police1 Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — A woman who was arrested after setting her apartment on fire escaped police custody and fled in a patrol car, leading police on a short pursuit.
The Star Tribune reported police were called to Jennifer K. Hillard’s apartment to put out a small fire burning in her living room.
When police arrived, Hillard was initially nowhere to be found. Police took her into custody after she fell from her hiding place in the ceiling tiles above her laundry room, the publication reported.
Police found a methamphetamine pipe on her.
While in the backseat of the patrol car, Hillard freed a handcuffed hand, crawled through the window separating the backseat from the front and stole the patrol car, police said.
“It appears from reviewing the video footage the back sliding window was closed,” a police statement read. “However, she did slide it open easily, indicating it may not have been fully latched in the closed position.”
After reaching speeds of 126 mph, an officer from a neighboring town saw Hillard and alerted state troopers. A trooper deployed “stop sticks” on the road, ending the pursuit by disabling the patrol vehicle.