“Houdiniesque”: New York Man Baffles Police After Freeing Himself From Handcuffs And Stealing Police Cruiser

Police are treating a recent escape by a handcuffed suspect as “Houdiniesque” after Bryan McMenamin, 38, was able to drive away with a police cruiser. He had been handcuffed behind his back and placed in the back of the car with another suspect. Of course, there is the possibility that it was not as much “Houdiniesque” as “Keystone Copian” if there an alternative explanation like the cuffs were not entirely closed.

McMenamin was arrested on charges of heroin possession and put in the backseat of the unmarked car. He then somehow made it to the front seat, stole the car, and hit another officer, and sped away. The police found the car with the other suspect still inside less than a mile away. A detective was struck in the leg by the car as they escaped, which will likely be charged as assault or even attempted murder.

He remained on the loose for a day until the police received a tip of a man matching his description. He was no longer wearing the handcuffs.

The stunt will make him a hero in prison but he went from a simple possession count to a likely torrent of charges from car theft to assault to escape to property damage. They could even charge him with kidnapping and attempted murder. What is clear is that the police are not in a forgiving mood after being embarrassed by his contortionist abilities. It would be an interesting defense on the possible assault or attempted murder charge that he was still wearing the handcuffs and did not have true control of the vehicle in making his escape. The only clear thing is that the prison is likely to be a tad cautious in the cell that they select for Bryan McMenamin.

Source: NY Times