Woman Who Escaped Mich. Police Cruiser Through Window Arrested While Still in Handcuffs
What to know
- A woman who went viral for escaping a Muskegon Heights police cruiser while handcuffed appeared in court Wednesday after being recaptured three days later.
- Kendra Aney, 38, squeezed through a partially open rear window of a patrol vehicle and fled on foot before being arrested again in an abandoned home.
- Aney was charged with escape from lawful custody, third‑degree home invasion and malicious destruction of police property.
The hearing was not as thrilling as the footage of Aney’s escape. She appeared in a blue jail jumpsuit, cuffed at the wrists and ankles. Aney did not speak.
The incident that has garnered national attention unfolded Saturday, March 28, when Muskegon Heights police observed a vehicle parked outside of the former Omni Fitness Club on Norton Avenue.
Through a fingerprint scan, police learned Aney allegedly absconded from parole in January.
She was sentenced in 2017 to seven to 20 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance, though it is unclear when Aney was paroled.
A 26-minute live video captured by The Block Paper Weekly shows officers handcuff Aney behind her back before placing the woman into a patrol vehicle. One officer later rolls a rear window halfway down.
About 10 minutes later, Aney begins her daring escape.
Video shows the woman wriggling out of the cracked window as officers searched a nearby truck. Aney bolted from the scene once she escaped the cruiser and took off on foot.
Within seconds, Aney was no longer in sight.
A search ensued when police realized Aney was no longer in the vehicle. Officers were unable to immediately locate Aney.
Police believed Aney was involved in a break-in that happened around 4:20 p.m. Sunday in the 3300 block of Peck Street.
Aney was found Tuesday morning in an abandoned residence in the 100 block of Rotterdam Avenue in Muskegon Heights.
During Wednesday’s arraignment, Aney was charged with single counts of third-degree home invasion, malicious destruction of police property and escape from lawful custody.
Defense attorney Shawn Perry argued for a reasonable bond so Aney could have the opportunity to seek in-patient counseling.
“She is suffering from drug addiction, your honor,” Perry said. “She has suffered greatly as a result of that.”
Muskegon County Chief Trial Attorney Matt Roberts argued that Aney has forfeited her right to be released. He said Aney still had the handcuffs around her wrists at the time of her arrest, though she was able to break the chains.
“She’s demonstrated from her pattern of behavior that she cannot be trusted if released,” Roberts said. “Quite frankly, it’ll be a situation of now we see her and now we don’t when it comes time to appear in court.”
District Judge Raymond Kostrzewa was not amused with Aney’s actions. He called the incident a “sad story” of how addiction can take over a person’s life.
“That demonstrates to me a very sad situation regarding the lengths she’s willing to go to maintain her substance abuse,” Kostrzewa said.
The judge set Aney’s bond at $150,000 cash or surety. Aney is scheduled to appear in court again on April 15 for a probable cause hearing.
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