Escape And Theft Of A Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Squad Car

Narrative: On Thursday, January 16, 2014, at approximately 1:06 PM Winnebago County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Donald Hartshorn was at the Mobil gas station at 550 Southrock Drive, Rockford, returning to Rockford with a female prisoner he had transported from Cook County Jail. As Senior Deputy Hartshorn was refueling his marked squad, his prisoner, Kristina D. McNutt (White/Female, Date of Birth-10/14/70—last known address 3515 Arline Av., Rockford, IL) slipped out of her handcuffs, and escaped from the back seat of the car. Senior Deputy Hartshorn pursued on foot and McNutt got into the driver’s seat of the car and sped away from the deputy in the marked squad car. Deputies began searching the area and the squad car was located abandoned in the 4900 block of Fielding Road approximately 45 minutes later. Deputies spoke to neighbors in the area and found that one had been asked by McNutt for a ride to the 7^th Street and Sawyer Road area in southeast Rockford. Deputies went to this area and located McNutt hiding in a garage in the 3100 block of 7^th St. McNutt was taken into custody without incident.

McNutt was originally in custody for a contempt of court warrant with no bond at the time she was being transported back to the Winnebago County Jail. Additional charges are pending a review by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.

This incident is being reviewed internally by Sheriff’s Administrative personnel so any policy violations or training issues can be identified and appropriate corrective action applied.

The criminal charges against Christine McNutt are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent until she is found guilty in a court of law.