By Brett Gillin
A Massachusetts man is spending some time behind bars after his ill-advised joy ride in a police cruiser. Recently released audio shows that the man taunted police officers over the radio while he drove the stolen police cruiser around Springfield Massachusetts. Thanks to the enormous restraint shown by several police officers, no one was hurt during the crazy pursuit of the suspect.
Police were called to a domestic disturbance shortly after 4:00 a.m. When they arrived, a woman from the residence met them outside and explained that she wanted her boyfriend removed from the house, according to this report from CBS 3.
Police removed 27-year old Michael Kopeski from the residence. At first, Kopeski cooperated with police officers and willingly answered their questions. His cooperation ended after police denied his request to reenter the residence to get some of his stuff from the house. That’s when Kopeski became extremely upset, or as Springfield police Sgt. John Delaney described, “Possessed.”
Kopeski allegedly began screaming at the police officers, calling them “pigs.” Then, Kopeski approached a running police cruiser and spit on the vehicle. While police began trying to calm the suspect down, Kopeski walked to the driver’s door of the cruiser and opened it. While an officer tried to remotely lock the door before Kopeski could get in, something went wrong and the suspect was able to enter the vehicle.
Kopeski then began pulling out of the driveway. Before he could get too far, another officer was able to open the passenger door and pepper spray the suspect. It did not stop the suspect from leaving the scene in the stolen car. “The spray had no effect on the possessed driver,” Delaney explained to reporters.
For the next 20 minutes, Kopeski drove the police cruiser around while using the radio to speak with, and eventually taunt the police. Masslive.com obtained this 15 minute police audio of the incident. During his joyride around town, Kopeski made statements to dispatch such as “Just address me as sir,” “Sir I’m patrolling the city, could you please just work with me?” and “You’re boring me man. I’m going to look for crime.” Finally, his most brazen taunt occurred just minutes before police finally captured him, when Kopeski exclaimed “You guys don’t even know where I am!”
Police eventually were able to box in the stolen car with the help of a K-9 officer. Kopeski still refused to get out of the car, according to this article on Masslive.com, so officers were forced to break the window in order to remove Kopeski. Once out of the car, the suspect continued to resist arrest, according to reports, and threw several punches at police officers. Police quickly got control over the situation and arrested Kopeski.
“Mr. Kopeski then got another ride in a police car, this time in the rear seat, cuffed,” Delaney explained to reporters.
Michael Kopeski has been charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, four counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and resisting arrest according to Masslive.com.
