Police Cruiser Theft Ends in Crash Into Dayton Home, Several Injured

It was just after 11 p.m. on Thursday when Dayton police got a call about a collision at the Shell station on West Third Street. While officers were already on the scene, something bizarre unfolded: an officer’s cruiser disappeared.

According to a Montgomery County Regional Dispatch supervisor, the cruiser was taken by an unknown suspect during the chaos. A county‑wide “Signal 99” request for backup was issued – and then, almost as quickly, cancelled.

The stolen vehicle didn’t travel far. By the early hours of Friday, it had barreled into a home on the 2400 block of Greenway Street. Witnesses told News Center 7 that the cruiser tore straight through the front of the house, actually sticking out of the back like a misplaced toy.

Inside the house were two people and a family dog when the metal beast crashed through. All three were rushed to the hospital. Luckily, their injuries were described as non‑life‑threatening, though the experience was undoubtedly terrifying.

The driver of the stolen cruiser – the suspect – also suffered injuries in the crash and was taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Police say the encounter turned physical. A scuffle broke out between officers and the suspect, leaving several deputies with minor injuries. Exact numbers weren’t released, but the department confirmed the wounds weren’t serious.

Investigators are now piecing together how the cruiser was taken, why the suspect chose to drive it into a house, and what led to the ensuing altercation. The incident adds yet another unsettling chapter to a night that began with a routine traffic crash.