Alabama police were faced with a new wrinkle in investigating crimes.
Deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office found a man who escaped an attempted traffic stop in December, WHNT-TV reported. That is not unusual, except Tyler James Freeman, 23, of Decatur, was found in the dryer of a home in Hartselle on Feb. 3, according to a news release.
According to the sheriff’s office, Freeman was arrested on six outstanding warrants in connection with a traffic stop on Dec. 11, 2021. That was when Freeman allegedly stole a Somerville police car in order to make his escape.
“A Somerville police officer attempted a traffic stop on an individual who attempted to elude,” Morgan County officials posted on Facebook. “The subject eventually left his vehicle on Black Road and ran on foot but was able to steal the Somerville patrol unit and flee.”
Freeman was charged with attempting to elude, resisting arrest, third-degree escape, fourth-degree theft, first-degree theft, and reckless endangerment, the sheriff’s office said in its release. Freeman also faces three additional charges from the Hartselle Police Department, according to the news release.
Investigators did not say who the dryer belonged to or whether it was a compact, full-size or “mega capacity” dryer, according to the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus, Georgia.
Freeman was booked into the Morgan County Jail, according to online jail records. Bail was set at $9,578, WHNT reported.