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Last updated on Thursday, January 12, 2012
(KOUTS) - Authorities in northwest Indiana Wednesday morning located a stolen police car taken by a handcuffed drug suspect, but found no signs of the wanted man.
(KOUTS) - Authorities in northwest Indiana Wednesday morning located a stolen police car taken by a handcuffed drug suspect, but found no signs of the wanted man.
The wrecked police cruiser from Kouts was found under water in southern Porter County sometime before 8 a.m., Porter County Sheriff's Sgt. Larry LaFlower said. He wouldn't give the exact location, but there are streams in the area.
William Francis Blankenship III, who police said stole the car filled with loaded weapons, was nowhere to be found, LaFlower said.
Because the car was submerged, police didn't know whether Blankenship took the weapons before fleeing.
Blankenship had been stopped and placed into custody on drug charges at the Family Express gas station, 104 South Main St. in Kouts, Ind. Tuesday afternoon. He was handcuffed and placed into the police car, but somehow was able to take off in the white 2010 Chevrolet Impala squad car when the officer went back inside the store, officials said.
Blankenship later radioed police asking about a key to the handcuffs and wanting to know where the car's cigarette lighter was located.
Authorities are investigating why the officer went inside the Family Express and left Blankenship in the car alone, LaFlower said.
LaFlower did not know what Blankenship's criminal history is.
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