Handcuffed man escapes police cruiser

Wanted in N.C., man at large in Clayton County for 2 days.

A man in handcuffs managed to slide out of a police cruiser on Monday and roam a Clayton County neighborhood for two days before authorities captured him.

Jonesboro police stopped 42-year-old Aaron Helton after running his tags and learning he was wanted in North Carolina on burglary and breaking and entering charges, Channel 2 Action News reported.

He was handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser while officials searched his vehicle, according to the news station.

During that search, Helton lowered an unlocked window and slipped away into nearby woods, police said.

A police dog tracked him for nearly two miles before passing out from the heat, police said.

Helton, shirtless and handcuffed, wasn’t apprehended until Wednesday, when he was spotted crossing Tara Boulevard, Channel 2 reported.

James Baker, a local business owner, told the news station workers saw Helton and thought “he was up to no good because he kept looking over his shoulder.”

Baker’s surveillance cameras captured him roaming South Main Street.

“It’s incredible that he was at large for that long and nobody sounded the alarm,” Baker said.

Police told Channel 2 there was no time to alert the public.

Helton is facing charges of drug possession, escape, theft by taking and having tools for the commission of a crime, according to jail records. Police found burglary tools and methamphetamine during the search of his vehicle, Channel 2 reported.

Helton is also facing two counts of obstructing an officer.