Handcuffed burglary suspect steals Seattle police car

A burglary suspect who was arrested and put in the back of a Seattle police patrol car managed to escape Thursday morning when he slid through the partition into the front seat and drove off.

Seattle police said the officer had "stepped away from the patrol vehicle for a minute" leaving the suspect and, apparently, the keys.

Police said they don't know whether the screen divider inside the patrol car had been down or if the suspect was able to lower it.

With the help of K-9 units, a helicopter and other police, the vehicle was found near a park in the area of 51st Avenue South and South Ruggles Street, according to police.

The car was undamaged and no weapons were taken, police said.

The man, 33, was arrested about four hours later when he was found, still handcuffed, near his home, police said.

He had originally been arrested while police were investigating the burglary of an elementary school in the 3700 block of South Kenyon Street.