Woman Slips Free From Handcuffs Before Stealing Police Cruiser: Cops

Authorities say Mia Thornton climbed from the back of a deputy's vehicle and into the driver's seat after crashing two cars.

Police in South Carolina say a woman's wild crime spree ended after she stole and crashed three cars, including a deputy's cruiser.

According to Sumter County Sheriff's deputies, Mia Thornton took her boyfriend’s vehicle without his permission Wednesday before wrecking it around 8 a.m.

The 21-year-old is accused of then flagging down a ride with a good Samaritan before allegedly grabbing the steering wheel and forcing the vehicle into another on the road.

When the good Samaritan got out to assess the situation, cops allege Thornton took that vehicle before crashing it a short time later.

According to WLTX, investigators say a tow truck driver picked Thornton up and brought her back to the good Samaritan's wrecked vehicle, where a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper had responded and called for a deputy to assist.

Investigators say Thornton was then handcuffed and placed in the rear of the deputy’s vehicle.

While in the seat, authorities say the vehicle's surveillance camera shows Thornton crawling through the window from the back seat into the front after allegedly slipping one of her hands from the cuffs.

Deputies say Thornton then led them on a 15-minute chase with speeds that exceeded 100 miles an hour.

Thornton reportedly then crashed a third time, at which point she was taken into custody and held on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated assault, assault and battery with intent to kill, malicious injury to property, grand larceny and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, among other charges. 

Thornton was denied bond at a hearing Thursday. She's due back in court Jan. 16.

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