Police: Theft suspect stole 2 police vehicles while handcuffed, survived 11 officers' gunfire

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PATRICK WHITTLE and DAVID SHARP
Updated 3:21 PM CDT, May 10, 2024

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A man who crashed a stolen police vehicle, survived gunfire from 11 police officers and then drove off and crashed another police cruiser — all while wearing handcuffs in a hospital gown — is in no mental capacity to appear before a judge right now, his lawyer said Friday.

The chaotic chain of events involving at least five law enforcement agencies began when Gary Porter, already wanted on a felony theft warrant, was discovered passed out in a chicken coop on Monday, arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation, police said.

Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey then took him to jail, and had stepped out of the pickup truck to escort him inside when Porter somehow slipped his handcuffs from behind his back, moved into the driver’s seat and drove off. The chief jumped onto the truck’s running board to try to stop him, but was thrown to the ground, authorities said.

A chase ensued, joined by officers from Norway, Oxford and Paris, sheriff’s deputies and state police in a mostly rural part of Maine about 48 miles from Portland, police said. They eventually deployed spike mats that blew the tires and caused Porter to crash into a ditch.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/maine-suspect-steals-two-police-vehicles-d6543ecb2339d49ce04fe5c321d547de

[John1956PA]

1. Reminds me of the scene in "The Night Stalker" (1971)

The vampire eluded a throng of Las Vegas policemen who fired at him near a swimming pool. The vampire merely looked back at them and ran off.

[wolfie001]

9. Funny plot summary! It's like the film budget was very limited

[John1956PA]

14. The movie had a documentary-like feel. It drew extremely high ratings for a TV movie. n/t

[wolfie001]

16. Boomer here

I remember being really scared. It was a pilot movie for a TV series that quickly became stale. McGavin was so great in A Christmas Story! Cheers

[John1956PA]

17. Yes! Mr. McGavin's character delighted us with the leg lamp and the feud with the neighbor's dogs.

Mr. McGavin was also great as the tough drill instructor in "Tribes" (1970) which also starred Jan-Michael Vincent and Earl Holliman. Best wishes.

[RazorbackExpat]

22. I remember the TV promo for that movie

"Some nut thinks he's a vampire!"

[John1956PA]

23. ABC promoted it heavily with spots all over, including during sports broadcasts.

The promotional campaign paid off. The production drew one of the largest viewing audiences for a TV movie up to that time.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Lucky to be alive, but still, long-term fucked.

[JoseBalow]

3. Does he have a GoFundMe?

[LudwigPastorius]

4. "...11 officers ultimately fired their weapons, and Porter was struck once by an officer's bullet"

"That's some nice shootin', boys."

[spudspud]

5. Make sure when you watch the police video at the story link...

that you play this in the background for full effect.

[0rganism]

6. Too bad he's going to prison, he might be a superhero

US should deploy him to Moscow and see what happens...

[Bayard]

7. The man shows a certain, joie de vivre.....

Along with being passed out in a chicken coop.

[Prairie Gates]

15. Passed out in the chicken coop was my favorite part

A detail of minimal significance, but great meaning.

[0rganism]

20. Seems like this was recently addressed in the Fallout show

[Prairie Gates]

21. ROFL

OMFG!!!

[photokath]

8. Almost

I almost want to root for the guy!

[twodogsbarking]

10. Was it Opie's brother?

[nycbos]

11. Not the brightest bulb in the box to be sure

[Passages]

12. This story sounds right out of Fargo. haha

[Prairie Gates]

13. Police Chief got out of his vehicle with the vehicle running or keys in ignition

Or keys in the center console?

I mean, it's the deputy who's the dummy in Mayberry. This is more like Hazzard County action.

[pecosbob]

18. Obviously local police need bazookas and tanks and M2 machine guns to handle this new threat.

[prodigitalson]

19. that's awesome

wrong, of course

but fucking awesome