Yesterday morning, a young couple was arrested after leading police on a chase from Camden, NJ to Philadelphia—and stealing two police cruisers and driving 100 mph. Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross said, "I never heard of anyone stealing two police cars in one incident." (Clearly it's been a while since Ross saw Terminator 2: Judgment Day.)
Sykes, 23, and Bills, 24, had apparently spotted a Camden police officer pulling over another car for a traffic violation at 10 a.m. The Philadelphia Daily News reports, "As [officer Sekou] Reid-Bey spoke to the motorist, Bills and Sykes, who were nearby, got into his cruiser and drove it into him before speeding off, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. Reid-Bey was thrown in the air from the impact and a leg was fractured, Thomson said. He was in stable condition at Cooper University Hospital."
The couple then sped into Philadelphia over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at over 100 mph, with the Camden police chasing them. Then, at 7th and Norris, they crashed the Camden cruiser. Bills was trapped in the car and Sykes ran—and stole an unattended Philadelphia police cruiser as the Philly cops were trying to apprehend Bills. From the Philadelphia Daily News:
Sykes' foot tattoo
[Deputy Commissioner Ross] said the officer had left his car alone because he believed that assisting the officers in the arrest was important to their safety. "Who would think the female is going to come out of that car and get in the police car?" Ross said.
Sykes sped off and barreled down the narrow streets of Fishtown, where she hit three parked cars and a box truck, police said. She eventually was stopped in Northern Liberties, at Hope Street near Wildey, and tried to run but was immediately nabbed about 10:30 a.m., police said.
You can watch Sykes' chase and arrest here:
The couple may have been on drugs (the cops are looking into that!) and they already face various charges, including resisting arrest, attempted murder, carjacking, DUI, etc. Oh, and they also have a 7-month-old baby (sigh).
