A Florida woman was arrested after allegedly stealing a Broward Sheriff’s Office cruiser in Fort Lauderdale and driving it nearly 100 miles north through four counties.
Shannon Marie Dillon, 42, was wearing a BSO bulletproof vest when deputies found her Tuesday night near Interstate 95 and Gatlin Boulevard in St. Lucie County, authorities said. The stolen cruiser, reported around 9 p.m., was found abandoned nearby about an hour later.
The cruiser reached speeds of up to 100 mph during the drive, according to Rod Skirvin, president of the Broward County Police Benevolent Association. No crash or injuries were reported.
Body-camera footage released by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office shows deputies surrounding Dillon with their guns drawn and ordering her to the ground before taking her into custody.
A deputy pointed his gun at the suspect and yelled, “Get down on the ground!” as another officer shouted, “Down! Down!” A photo of Dillon in the back of the cop car after her arrest shows her with gravel on her face and chest.
Dillon faces multiple charges in St. Lucie County, including grand theft of law enforcement equipment, unlawful use of a police badge or law enforcement vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon. The weapons charge stems from a department-issued rifle found inside the cruiser, rather than on Dillon herself, both sheriff's offices confirmed to The Independent.
Dillon also faces Broward County charges including grand theft of law enforcement equipment from an authorized emergency vehicle and grand theft. She is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail, and her total bond has been set at $107,500, according to online inmate records.
It remains unclear how Dillon gained access to the cruiser or why she allegedly drove it to Port St. Lucie. BSO has launched an Internal Affairs investigation into the theft.
Later Wednesday, Dillon reportedly acted erratically in a bond hearing, smiling, giggling and repeatedly interrupting the judge with unsolicited comments, Yahoo reports.
Footage from NBC6 South Florida and WPTV News shows the judge repeatedly trying to get Dillon to listen to the proceedings.
At one point, the judge asked, “Do you want to say anything before I set bonds on the other charges?”
Dillon replied, “At this time, thank you very much, judge, and I will not disappoint you … I'm going to dedicate the rest of my existence instead of saying I'd rather be nonexistent. I'm going to dedicate at getting all my parental rights terminated as of right now. I want papers drawn up, telling my whole [inaudible speech].”
A man seated nearby appeared stunned by Dillon’s remarks, sitting with his mouth open as she spoke, according to Yahoo.
Dillon was previously arrested in January in Coral Springs on allegations of trespassing and obstructing an officer, WSVN reports.
