Woman Accused Of Leading Police On Chase In Stolen Cop Car Held For Trial
BEAVER (KDKA) - A woman accused of trying to steal a police cruiser and leading officers on a chase was held for court this morning.
Roxanne Rimer was in court for a preliminary hearing Beaver County this morning.
She was arrested for allegedly stealing from a Kohl's department store. Police say she got into a fight in a car with some family members, who didn't know that she'd allegedly stolen items from the store.
After her arrest, police say Rimer was handcuffed in the back of a Center Township police cruiser. Then, she somehow squeezed into the front seat and drove off.
Eventually, the car stopped and police say tried to run away.
However, police took her into custody and she is charged with robbery, assault and endangerment.
A Beaver County district judge ordered Rimer to stand trial after a video depicting portions of the event was played at the preliminary hearing. The video has yet to be released to the media.
The video shows Roxanne Rimer escorted into the car cuffed behind her back, a high speed drive through several neighborhoods, then after the car stops, Roxanne Rimer leaving the car still cuffed.
Police say she put a Center Twp. police cruiser in gear and drove at speeds upwards of 80 miles an hour through Monaca, among other places, after climbing through a window between back seat and front seat and steering handcuffed behind her back. Most likely using fingers and thumbs.
"She not only put the person that she hit in that vehicle in front of her in danger of death or serious bodily injury but also the other officers and there's specific aggravated assault charges that apply to protecting police officers which we asked for," said prosecutor Frank Martocci.
The prosecution argued that although no officers were hospitalized, the aggravated assault charges against police should remain. The judge agreed although the defense argued to reduce those charges.
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