Judge Orders Evaluation For Man Accused Of Taking Cop Car On Joyride
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami police have filed charges after a man took one of their patrol cars on a joyride.
On Wednesday, a Miami judge ordered 51-year old Larry Nystrom to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for a mental health evaluation.
At a hearing Wednesday morning, Nystrom told a judge he wasn't guilty.
The incident happened when an officer went into the Jackson Memorial Health Crisis Center on Tuesday, leaving the keys in the car. While the officer was inside filling out paper work, Nystrom got into the patrol car and drove off, police said.
A short time later a Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulled him over for speeding on Alligator Alley. Since the officer at the crisis center did not realize his car had been taken there was no alert put out on it. The trooper questioned Nystrom and then let him go. The trooper then reported the incident as suspicious to the Miami Police Department.
CLICK HERE to watch Joan Murray's report
By the time the police department and FHP figured out the car had been taken, Nystrom had already been driven back to the crisis center and parked in the lot. According to his arrest affidavit, a Miami police officer saw him pull in and things didn't seem quite right.
"Defendant stepped out of the vehicle and appeared to be in a state of mental distress, shaky hands, a blank stare, and refused to identify himself while being questioned," according to the report. "Defendant attempted to re-enter the vehicle, at which time, for public safety... with the help of crisis security.. defendant was taken out of the vehicle and placed in handcuffs."
While being taken into custody, Nystrom told the officers, "I had fun on the joy ride and I even turned on the lights and sirens," according to the report. He's been charged with Grand Theft Auto.
At the time of his arrest Nystrom was out on bond for allegedly throwing rocks at someone's car.
Manuel Watson said he ran into him a few days ago.
"I saw him on tv and said that's the guy," said Watson. "He said could I use your phone to call my mother. He couldn't remember who he was and identified himself as an ex-veteran"
Police said they are investigating if the officer left his car running with the keys in the ignition. If that is determined to be true, the officer could be disciplined.
