A fraud suspect was caught trying to free himself from his handcuffs while in the back seat of a patrol car after snatching a back-up handcuff key from the arresting officer, DeLand police said.
Brian Cote, 33, was initially headed to jail on charges of passing a counterfeit bank bill, possession of methamphetamine and other counts, but wound up charged with two additional felonies — prisoner escape and possession of a concealed handcuff key while in custody.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to Mainstreet Bank, 204 S. Woodland Blvd., and arrested Cote after he had tried to obtain $786 by cashing a fake check, according to an arrest report.
Cote attempted to escape arrest, but was apprehended, handcuffed and placed into the backseat of a DeLand police cruiser, authorities said.
The arresting police officer said he heard Cote's handcuffs making a ratcheting sound. After they arrived at the police station, the officer discovered Cote had opened the slider to the divider between the front and back seat and had snatched a handcuff key out of the officer's bag, the report stated.
Cote was handcuffed behind his back, but by the time they arrived at the station, the suspect's hands were in front of his waist, police said. The officer stated in the report that his handcuff key dropped to the floor after Cote was ordered to show his hands.
Cote remains held on $16,500 bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
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