Daniel Barton, a 34-year-old man from Wisconsin, who was already awaiting trial on suspicion of stealing a police car, was arrested again last week after stealing another one. In December, Barton was initially arrested for stealing a police car that belonged to a police officer in Milwaukee. He was charged with taking or driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent and released on bail while awaiting trial, NBC 15 reports.
However, he failed to appear in court in February, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Last Tuesday, he was found hiding in a gym after stealing another squad car. The Shorewood Police Department released footage showing Barton driving past police officers conducting a traffic stop in the stolen police car. After abandoning the vehicle, police officers later found him hiding in a nearby gym and charged him with driving or operating a car without the owner’s consent.
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Barton’s actions have left many people wondering what could have possibly motivated him to steal not one, but two police cars. Some speculate that it could be a result of mental health issues or drug addiction, while others believe it could be sheer recklessness and a lack of respect for the law. Regardless of the underlying cause, his actions have put many people’s lives at risk.
Some say it is alarming that someone who has already been charged with stealing a police car would be able to do it again while awaiting trial. It has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in preventing repeat offenders from committing similar crimes. Barton’s pre-trial conference is scheduled for July, and it remains to be seen what consequences he will face for his actions.
Police cars are an essential tool for law enforcement in the United States, but unfortunately, they are not immune to theft. Although there is no specific statistic on the rate of police car theft in the US, it is known that emergency vehicle accidents involving police cars are a significant problem.
According to research by the University of Washington, there are around 300 fatalities each year involving police cars, and about a third of those fatalities are people not involved in the pursuit. This means that not only are police cars at risk of being stolen, but they can also pose a danger to innocent bystanders.
Emergency vehicle accidents such as those involving ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars are a growing concern in the US. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 6,500 ambulance accidents per year in the US, with 35% causing injury or death.
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While police car theft is not as prevalent as other types of vehicle theft, it does happen. According to news reports, LoJack used to be the go-to company for recovering stolen police cars, but this is no longer the case. Police cars often have specialized equipment installed that can make them more attractive targets for thieves. For example, some police cars have four short whip antennas on the roof, which could indicate that they have a lot of devices installed globally, with probably even more density in the US.
The post A Wisconsin Man Awaiting Trial On Suspicion Of Stealing A Cop Car Is Accused Of Having Stolen Another One appeared first on Hollywood Unlocked .