Springfield woman slips cuffs, flees, police say

A Springfield woman allegedly was able to slip her handcuffs off and escape from a Springfield police cruiser.

Shianne Givens, 35, is charged with escape and theft in Clark County Municipal Court. She pleaded not guilty. Her bail was set at $5,000.

Springfield police began their investigation Tuesday when they were called to West North Street to investigate a report of theft, according to an affidavit. Officers spoke with a woman who said her purse was stolen by a woman with blonde hair and wearing a pink shirt.

“While checking the area, (an officer) advised he observed a female matching the suspect description walk into Wendy’s,” the affidavit says.

Officers went to the Wendy’s and were told the woman had gone into the bathroom, the court document says. When Givens left the bathroom, she was wearing a multicolored dress and in a bag was a pink shirt and a blond wig, the affidavit says.

Givens was taken back to the scene where the purse was stolen, the affidavit says, and the victim was able to identify her. But, while the officers spoke to the woman, Givens was able to escape.

“While speaking to (the victim) outside my cruiser, Givens was able to free one of her hands from her handcuffs and roll the back window down, open the door and run southbound,” the affidavit says.

Officers chased Givens on foot for about 100 yards, the affidavit says, and were able to catch her.

Givens was taken to the Springfield Regional Medical Center after she allegedly told officers she had taken medication prior to her arrest and then she was booked into the Clark County Jail.