UPDATED STORY
It gives new meaning to the phrase rude awakening.
"I was in the back room here and it woke me up," says resident John Harper. "And I sleep through a lot."
Palm Beach Gardens Police say it all started as a DUI stop early Tuesday morning.
Officers arrested 37-year-old Deanna Robare near the 2200 block of Gardens East Drive - and put her in the back of a police car.
That's when this story takes a turn - police say she escaped her handcuffs, somehow got through the prisoner barrier, and stole the patrol car.
"That's unbelievable to me," Harper says. "Getting out of the handcuffs...that does happen. As far as the barricade in the police vehicle...I don't think I could break that down."
The chase continued for three miles to the 3500 block of Florida Blvd. before the suspect crashed into a truck and took out a fence, narrowly missing a tree.
Police then took a very vocal Robare into custody.
"I'm so grateful that nobody got killed," resident Cara Johnson says. "That's what I'm grateful for."
Johnson captured several pictures of the scene a few doors down.
"People need to learn to stop drinking and driving!" she says.
She and others in the neighborhood say their street does have a history erratic drivers and speeding problems - but Tuesday morning's incident is a first.
"It seems like everyone is taking turns, having something bad or strange happening at their house," Harper says. "We'll see what happens tomorrow night, you know?"
Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the crash.
Police have still not made it clear exactly how the suspect was able to escape the cuffs and get over the barrier in the police car.
Robare faces several charges including grand theft auto and DUI.
EARLIER STORY
Palm Beach Gardens police said a drunk woman stole a police car after she was arrested and then crashed into a truck and house overnight.
At about 2:39 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the area of the 2200 block of Gardens East Drive after receiving a report of an intoxicated driver.
Officers conducted an investigation and arrested Deanna Robare, 37, of West Palm Beach on charges of driving under the influence.
Police said while Robare was handcuffed and placed in the rear of the police car, she was able to escape the handcuffs, defeat the prisoner barrier and steal the patrol car.
A brief pursuit occurred and ended with Robare crashing the stolen police car in the 3500 block of Florida Blvd. where she was apprehended.
Robare was transported to the hospital. No other persons were injured in this incident.
Police said Robare will be with grand theft auto, escape, DUI, narcotics possession and several traffic-related offenses.
