RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - One man is dead after he stole the police car of a Richmond police officer who was trying to detain him, according to Richmond Police Major Steve Drew.
Late Monday evening Richmond Police identified the man as Timothy R. Howerton, age 32, of the 2700 block of Walmsley Boulevard.
Drew said the officer spotted the man who matched the description of a wanted man about 12:30 Monday afternoon in the area of Castlewood Rd. and Jeff Davis Highway in South Richmond.
Drew said when the officer moved in to apprehend the man, the man grabbed a gun. The officer grabbed his own gun and began to retreat to his police cruiser, Drew said.
At that point, police said, the man who fit the description of the wanted man got into the officer's cruiser and drove off. The cruiser crashed and overturned a short distance away.
Police said the man behind the wheel died at the scene.
Police said they were still interviewing witnesses and would not yet release on what warrants the man they were looking for was wanted.
Police did confirm the warrants were issued in another jurisdiction.
