Jan. 18, 2005 -- Janice Carpio, KFOX News at Nine

It all started early this morning at the Walgreens on Dyer Street. El Paso Police say two suspects walk in and attempt to steal a pack of cigarettes when they struggle with the clerk.

They escape, police arrive, and the search is on.

"They stopped the subjects and began to interview them and at that time one of the subjects fled on foot from officers," say Spokesperson Carlos Carrillo. The man who allegedly ran is 49 year old Kenneth Dalbert. At that moment, police say they detained the other suspect to continue questioning. They put 45 year old Maurice Strong in the back seat. "Once the subject is inside we can lock the door, he being inside there is no way he can get out, unless someone from the outside can open the door for him," says Officer Pablo Estrada. Police are still investigating how the suspect was detained in the back seat, whether he was wearing handcuffs or was put in any restraints, but what they do know is that he managed to kick the window open, run up to the front, and drive away in the police unit. That vehicle was later located on the 46th hundred block of Anchorage and both suspects were gone.

Police tell KFOX that Strong likely wasn't hand cuffed because he hadn't been arrested. He was still in the questioning process when the other suspect ran and in the heat of the moment the officer placed him in the back seat of the police car to go help out his partner. They say now a day new police units are built to prevent vehicle theft even while the keys are inside.

But that wasn't the case in this situation and the suspect managed to drive off with the police unit, a situation officials say is still under investigation.

The suspects were arrested Tuesday night. Dalbert will be charged for evading arrest while Strong will be charged with evading arrest, theft of a vehicle and criminal mischief.

He is also being charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle which police say was stolen after he escaped Tuesday morning. Charges for stealing the cigarettes are still pending.