OFFICER

“Petite” Inmate Slips Off Handcuffs, Escapes Jail

As she was being booked Tuesday, she slipped her handcuffs off and ran out the door.

A prisoner slipped out of her handcuffs Tuesday evening and ran out of sight from authorities at the Ventura Police Department in Southern California.

Kelly Smith, 23, of Ventura, was being booked Tuesday night on charges of a stolen vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon when she managed to escape custody, authorities said.

Her arrest stemmed from an attempt to flee from officers when she nearly struck one of them with a stolen truck loaded with guns and ammo.

While she was seated in the booking area, she slipped her handcuffs off and ran out of the downstairs door. Once officers realized she had fled, they went after her.

She was last seen in the area of Walker Street and Glacier Avenue near some of the commercial businesses.

Smith was last seen wearing a blue shirt and bluejeans. Her hair is dyed red. She is wanted for escaping custody, possession of a stolen vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon and two unrelated misdemeanor warrants.

"Anytime you have someone in custody you want to keep them in custody," said Cmdr. Ryan Weeks, of the Ventura Police Department.

"The car backed up and took off nearly striking one of the officers, they jumped out of the way."

Weeks said Smith and a passenger stole the truck they were in and tried to take off when police spotted them.

Weeks said the stolen truck had guns, ammunition, and gun powder.

Neighbors said Smith nearly escaped twice during the arrest, once after she was pulled from the vehicle and held on the ground and then again from the patrol cruiser.

Neighbors credit a member of the homeowners association for tackling her and holding her for police.

She complained of pain in her back and neck and was taken to the hospital, Weeks said.

After about 11 hours, she was cleared to be booked into the Ventura jail when she escaped.

"She was handcuffed, sitting down on a bench and cuffed to the bench," Weeks said.

She sat alone in a hallway facing what police describe as a glass window.

They think she squatted low enough out of view and then crawled out the door.

"Very skinny. Very petite wrists ... She was able to get both of her hands out from the cuffs and was able to sneak out," Weeks said.

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