Man crashes stolen cruiser into a ditch, breaks into house, falls asleep

[Champ]

ATHENS, Tenn. (AP) — An armed robbery suspect used the arrest of his partner as a diversion to steal a new patrol car, crash into a ditch, break into a woman's home and then fall asleep on her couch, authorities said.

Robert Bell was arraigned on a variety of charges after the spree that began with the hold up of a market early Wednesday, said McMinn County Sheriff Steve Frisbie. The other suspect charged is Patrick Elswood.

After hitting the market, the two robbers stole a Ford Bronco and led authorities chasing them into Athens. They ran the Bronco into a fence and struck a parked car.

The pair jumped out of the car and tried to run away as an officer got out of his cruiser to chase them on foot.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-12-16-thief_x.htm