Man charged after stealing police cruiser, leading Beachwood officers on a chase

BEACHWOOD, Ohio — A man has been charged after allegedly stealing a Beachwood police officer's cruiser last Friday.

Dashcam video shows Beachwood police officers chasing Nathaniel Simpson Friday afternoon.

Officers responded to the 3900 block of Richmond Road around 2:26 p.m. after receiving a report of a pick-up truck that had been stolen.

Police quickly spotted the stolen truck entering a parking lot near the intersection of Chagrin Boulevard and Green Road. When officers approached the truck, Simpson ditched the vehicle and fled on foot, according to authorities.

During the foot pursuit, Simpson came across an unoccupied Beachwood police cruiser that was running.

Simpson stole the cruiser and fled the scene, damaging property in the area, according to police.

Officers fired shots at the cruiser in an attempt at disabling the vehicle, but Simpson was still able to flee the scene in the cruiser at a low speed, police said.

During the incident, two Beachwood police officers suffered minor injuries.

Simpson is charged with felonious assault of a peace officer, and additional charges are pending, according to authorities.

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