Onthemark
Well-Known Member
A Springfield man was arrested early Thursday after he stole a police cruiser and took it for a joyride while taunting police over the radio after police responded to a disturbance between him and his girlfriend.
The incident unfolded around 4 a.m. when police responded to a report of a disturbance. They arrived to the home on Laurelton Street and were greeted by a woman who asked police to get her boyfriend to leave.
Police escorted twenty-seven year old Michael Kopeski from the house and had him wait outside. He then allegedly told the officers he wanted to go back inside the house to "get his stuff." When the officers told Kopeski that he could not go back inside, he became infuriated. He allegedly called the police officers "pigs" before spitting on their police cruiser and threatening to take it.
As Kopeski walked over to the driver's door, one of the police officers locked the door with a remote, however Kopeski was able to get inside the cruiser. He began to drive away from the police officers, but not before one of the officers was able was able to open the passenger door, discharging pepper spray into the car, according to authorities.
"The spray had no effect on the possessed driver," said Sgt. John Delaney.
Authorities say the officers radioed the last location where the police cruiser was going and during the next 20 minutes Kopeski used the police radio to taunt the officers and disrupt radio transmissions. Eventually other officers were able to locate and block the stolen cruiser from moving with their cruisers.
Police say the suspect allegedly refused to open the door and they were forced to break the passenger window in order to reach inside and shut the ignition off. Authorities say Kopeski did not cooperate and allegedly threw punches at the police officers. He fought with officer until they were able to place him into custody, injuring two of the police officers.
Kopeski was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, resisting arrest and four counts of assault and battery on a police officer. He pleaded not guilty to charges and remains jailed on $5,000 bond. His next court appearance in March 4 for a pre-trial hearing.
You can hear the radio transmissions between officers and suspect in the video below.
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