Fort Lauderdale woman arrested after stealing Broward County Sheriff’s patrol car
(Shannon Marie Dillon, 42: Florida woman faces multiple charges associated with stealing police patrol car)
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — A Fort Lauderdale woman was arrested Tuesday night after she reportedly stole a marked Broward Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle in Fort Lauderdale fled with it north on Interstate 95 before abandoning the patrol car on an off-ramp in St. Lucie County.
Authorities identified the woman as Shannon Marie Dillon, 42, who was taken into custody after deputies found her near the abandoned patrol vehicle wearing an outer ballistic vest bearing Broward Sheriff’s Office insignia.
The strange incident began shortly after 9 p.m. Sept. 22, when authorities received a report that a marked BSO vehicle had been stolen from a public parking area at the agency’s Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale. A BOLO alert was issued as the Dodge Charger traveled north on I-95.
At approximately 9:40 p.m., St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies, Port St. Lucie police officers and Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded after receiving information that the stolen vehicle was approaching the Gatlin Boulevard area.
Florida Highway Patrol soon located the patrol car abandoned on the northbound I-95 exit ramp to Southwest Gatlin Boulevard, near mile marker 118.
The discovery prompted a significant law enforcement response. Port St. Lucie police established a perimeter after receiving information that Dillon might have access to a firearm. Officers deployed a K-9 unit and drone resources while deputies searched the surrounding area.
Dillon was subsequently located wearing the BSO-marked ballistic vest and taken into custody without incident. Body-camera footage released by officials showed deputies ordering her to the ground before placing her under arrest.
The I-95 northbound exit ramp was temporarily closed while investigators processed the scene. It reopened shortly after midnight Wednesday.
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,
- unlawful possession of four or fewer identification items,
- possession or use of drug paraphernalia,
- possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon,
- driving with a suspended license. and
- resisting an officer without violence.
She also faces Broward County charges of grand theft of law enforcement equipment from an authorized emergency vehicle and grand theft.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the stolen vehicle was recovered with nothing missing. The deputy assigned to the patrol vehicle was reportedly on duty when he discovered the marked unit was missing.
The BSO Internal Affairs Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft, including whether any agency policies were violated.
Officials credited the coordinated response involving the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Lucie Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol with bringing the incident to a peaceful conclusion.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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(Sources: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, WPTV, CBS 12 News)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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