KDPS recovers stolen patrol vehicle

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
241 W. South Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4796
Phone: (269) 337-8047
3-1-1
www.kalamazoocity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Oct. 16, 2020
Media Contact for City of Kalamazoo:
Jeff Chamberlain, Deputy City Manager
chamberlainj@kalamazoocity.org
(269) 720-5934
KDPS recovers stolen patrol vehicle
Vehicle found quickly and returned to KDPS possession undamaged with all items in-tact, suspect apprehended and arrested
Kalamazoo – The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety successfully recovered a police cruiser stolen on Friday. The vehicle was located and returned to KDPS’ possession undamaged, with all items in-tact within a few minutes. The suspect was apprehended, arrested and remains in police custody.
The incident occurred when an officer was escorting a woman in distress into Borgess Hospital.
“With the help of officers from the Kalamazoo Township Police Department, we made a felony arrest and were able to quickly recover the vehicle,” said KDPS Chief Vernon Coakley. “Thankfully, no one was hurt, and nothing was stolen from the vehicle, and all police sensitive information was password protected. The suspect, who was arrested and charged with Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile, remains in the custody of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department.”
Chief Coakley plans to reinforce all KDPS policies regarding police vehicles immediately to prevent such incidents, which are extremely rare, from occurring again in the future.