A routine traffic stop in Dallas exploded into a dangerous chase when a handcuffed suspect broke free from his restraints, hijacked a police cruiser, and sped down the interstate with an officer trapped in the back seat before jumping from the moving vehicle at 50 miles per hour.
Traffic Stop Turns Into Nightmare Scenario
The incident began around 5:35 p.m. on May 30 when Dallas police officers stopped a vehicle in the 2300 block of South Marsalis Avenue. Officers arrested Stacey Huffman, 37, and placed him handcuffed in the back seat of their patrol car. Newly released body camera and dash camera footage shows Huffman slipping his left hand out of the handcuffs before concealing his hands behind his back, appearing to remain restrained while planning his next move.
As officers transported Huffman to jail, he attempted to open the locked rear door and removed his seatbelt. Around 6:10 p.m., officers stopped their cruiser on Interstate 35 to further secure the suspect. The moment both officers stepped out of the vehicle, Huffman climbed into the driver’s seat and accelerated away. One officer managed to dive into the back seat before the cruiser took off, finding himself in the same position his prisoner had just occupied.
Officer Fights For Control At Highway Speeds
The trapped officer deployed his Taser against Huffman, but the suspect pulled the wires away, rendering the device useless. Body camera footage captures the officer repeatedly shouting commands to stop the vehicle as Huffman continued accelerating down the highway. The officer then drew his duty weapon and struck Huffman on the side of the head as the suspect pushed the cruiser faster. Video shows the officer being violently thrown around the back seat as the patrol car swerved across the roadway.
After approximately 30 seconds of driving, during which the vehicle traveled roughly 1,000 feet, Huffman opened the driver’s door while traveling at about 50 miles per hour and jumped out. The patrol car continued rolling down the interstate until the officer lunged into the front seat and regained control, narrowly avoiding a crash. Huffman was found unconscious on the roadway and taken back into custody.
Multiple Charges Expected After Hospital Treatment
Both Huffman and the officer were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Authorities said Huffman faces multiple charges including driving while license invalid, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and escape from custody. The dramatic incident highlights the constant dangers law enforcement officers face even during seemingly routine procedures, and the split-second decisions required when suspects attempt to escape.