A Lenoir police officer got a nasty Christmas surprise when she went home for a break during her shift only to have her patrol car stolen.
She'd gone to her home in the Lower Creek community at about 9 p.m. and parked her 2005 Ford Crown Victoria in the driveway. The engine was running and investigators believe the car was unlocked.
Two to three minutes after she went inside, she heard a noise and ran outside to find her police cruiser missing. She called it in and officers from Lenoir and surrounding areas were put on alert.
About three minutes after the alert went out, officers got a call about a two-car collision at the intersection of Blowing Rock Boulevard and Nu Way Circle. Her patrol car was one of the vehicles involved in the crash and the man at the wheel had run away from the scene toward Blue Ridge Energies.
"The patrol car was totally destroyed," said Capt. Scott Brown of the Lenoir Police Department.
The driver of the other car was taken to Frye Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
Officers searched the area and found James Alexander Nichols of Lenoir. Witnesses said he was the man who'd been driving the police car.
Nichols, 44, was arrested and charged with felony breaking and entering into an automobile, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen property and driving while impaired.
He is being held in the Caldwell County jail on a total of $45,000 secured bond.
Nichols was visiting relatives in the area and took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself, Brown said.
Nothing had been taken from the patrol car. The car with its police equipment was worth an estimated $16,000 to $18,000, Brown said.
He would not identify the officer, but said she has been with the department for a couple of years.
Brown added that she violated department policies in leaving her car unsecured and the violations would be dealt with internally.
The officer was not suspended and is still working for the department, he said.
Brown called the incident embarrassing and said, "We hope the public learns from our mistake."
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