Handcuffed Woman Kicks Out Squad Car Window and Flees

A woman accused of thievery at Carson Pirie Scott briefly escaped from police custody last month after climbing out of a squad car window, according to 

Sylvia Johnson, 38, of Chicago, selected bottle of perfume and two pairs of women’s boots at the Western Avenue store and hid them in a Carson’s bag she got at a different location, police said.

She tried to leave without paying, police said, so store security took her to the security office. When the officer arrived and was getting information from store security, Johnson went to another Carson’s employee, placed her purse straps around the woman's neck and tried to choke her, according to police.

Johnson was handcuffed and put in the back seat of a police squad car, but while the officer was checking on the woman who had been choked, Johnson kicked out the back window of police car, got out and started running northbound on Western Avenue while handcuffed.

When police caught her the second time, they took her into custody and later found out that she gave them a phony name, police said.

Police ultimately charged Johnson, with escape, criminal damage to government property, aggravated battery, retail theft and obstructing identification.

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