Man arrested after escaping squad car

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Police arrested three people on Wednesday evening after one person helped another escape from a police vehicle.

Around 11:15 p.m., police say they were doing an area check for several suspicious people at the Morris Trailer Park at 5350 Estate Road in Terre Haute.

Police found Timothy Footman, 20, urinating on a tree at Lot 39. They say Footman lied about his name but his true identity was quickly discovered and Footman had two active arrest warrants.

Footman was handcuffed behind his back, searched and sat in the rear seat of a marked squad car.

While at the scene, police arrested a second suspect, Ariel Childeress, 21, for an outstanding warrant.

While arresting Childeress, a witness observed a white female help Footman escape from the back seat of the squad car. Footman had pulled his legs through his arms and gotten the handcuffs to the front of his body. Police say that's when the female opened the driver's door of the police car, then went to the backseat and opened the door to release Footman.

Police say that the backseat doors were locked, and the back doors can not be opened from the inside.

After getting out of the car, Footman ran west through the trailer park and waded across Otter Creek which is directly west of the trailer park.

After a search of the area, police found hiding under a trailer skirt near the entrance of the trailer park. Police say that Footman had doubled back and re-crossed the creek. Footman was arrested after a brief foot chase. Footman was still wearing the handcuffs on both wrists.

Police arrested Cassandra Dean, 18, for assisting Footman in escaping the squad car by opening the door for him. Dean was arrested for assisting a criminal and false informing.

In addition to the two arrest warrants, Footman was arrested for a separate second offense of escape and for resisting law enforcement.