ARKANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities arrested a Kansas man Thursday morning after he stole a sheriff deputy’s patrol vehicle.

According to a release from Cowley County, deputies stopped a vehicle for a speed violation in the 21000 block of U.S. 77 on Wednesday evening. Upon further investigation, the back-seat passenger was identified as Derek Matthew Shrewsberry, Arkansas City.

The deputy knew there was an active warrant for probation violation with no bond for Shrewsberry.

The deputy also observed drug paraphernalia in the back seat.

The deputy placed him under arrest for that warrant. He was handcuffed behind his back, placed in the patrol car and belted in.

The deputy returned to the stopped vehicle and explained to the driver what he had observed. As the deputy was removing the front-seat passenger, he saw Shrewsberry leave in the patrol vehicle.

Approximately 6 miles south of the original stop location, the suspect passed another deputy responding to the area. The suspect abandoned the patrol vehicle and fled on foot.

A search of the area was discontinued just after 3 a.m. Authorities, acting on information they had received, arrested Shrewsberry in Arkansas City. He is being held in the Cowley County jail on felony theft and weapons charges.