Chaos unfolded in North Memphis early this morning when a prowler call led to the theft and subsequent crash of a Memphis Police Department cruiser, according to officials. The call, received just before 3:50 a.m., drew MPD officers to the 1000 block of Faxon Avenue. As they investigated the suspicious activity, a bold thief took advantage of the situation and commandeered an unattended 2020 Dodge Charger marked police vehicle, according to FOX13 Memphis.

The stolen squad car was discovered around 5 a.m., crashed at the intersection of Second Street and North Mud Island Road, roughly three miles from the scene of the theft. In response to the incident, MPD stated that the "standard practice is turning your vehicle off and locking the doors." Similarly, reporting from WREG revealed another victim of the evening's disturbances – a local woman informed by police of a prowler around her neighbor's house, only to find her son's bike stolen from her porch. She explained that the house in question was under surveillance and in the process of being sold, citing, "They’re fixing on it because they’re trying to sell it," she said in an interview with WREG.

As of now, a MPD manhunt is underway for the suspect who is still at large. The intersection where the cruiser met its end was observed by an ABC24 news crew, noting significant rear-end damage to the vehicle. MPD is cautioning the public that the suspect may be armed and dangerous, escalating the urgency of the search. Residents have been advised to avoid the area if possible, and anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH. This information was confirmed by the Local Memphis coverage of the event.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Police Department is likely reassessing their protocols in the wake of the cruiser's theft, which brings to light the risks officers face when their attention is diverted, even in the routine fulfillment of their duties. The unexpected theft and crash sequence of events, further complicating an already active crime scene investigation, serves as a cautionary tale of a night that escalated beyond the ordinary for law enforcement and local residents alike.