Escapee faces theft charges over handcuffs
Posted: March 1, 2015 - 4:00am

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Douglas Derrick McKenzie was already in trouble with the law. But after briefly escaping from Columbus police this week, the 28-year-old Perry man now faces another charge he probably wasn't planning on: misdemeanor theft for stealing handcuffs. And that's on top of a felony escape charge. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that police first encountered McKenzie after being called to a possible domestic dispute. McKenzie was shackled and put into a police cruiser after authorities discovered an outstanding warrant in Warner Robins. While police were checking on that warrant, McKenzie allegedly fled the cruiser, still handcuffed. Police described McKenzie as loud enough that neighbors emerged from their homes to watch the scene. Police say they put McKenzie in leg irons once they caught him. The handcuffs are valued at $35.