Robbery, carjacking suspect stole patrol vehicle while handcuffed, deputies say

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — A New York man is facing a list of charges after investigators said he tried to steal multiple cars before successfully taking off in a deputy’s patrol car.

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Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that they initially responded to a report of a robbery at a 7-Eleven store in Watertown. Police said that after getting into a physical struggle with the store clerk, Donald Hutt tried to steal an occupied vehicle in the store’s parking lot.

Unable to get the occupied vehicle, deputies said that Hutt then went into a diner across the street and unsuccessfully demanded car keys from customers. Hutt is accused of then breaking into a towing business, where deputies caught up with him.

Deputies said that after taking him into custody, Hutt was placed into the back seat of a patrol vehicle while they interviewed one of the victims, WWNY reported. Hutt managed to climb through the handcuffs and into the front seat of the vehicle and drove away.

Deputies told WWNY that they did not chase Hutt because the patrol vehicle was equipped with tracking technology, allowing officers to follow at a distance.

Hutt was eventually stopped when deputies deployed stop sticks to deflate the vehicle’s tires. Deputies said there was a small engine fire put out with fire extinguishers at the scene.

Hutt’s charges include robbery, grand larceny and resisting arrest, WWNY reported.

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