San Antonio police are searching for a man who escaped from their custody Monday in the 1700 block of Elmendorf.
Andrew Davila, 40, was arrested earlier Monday for auto theft. Police say it started when Davila and a woman were in a stolen vehicle.
Police took Davila in custody and later arrested the female after a short chase.
While in the police car, police said Davila was somehow able to crawl through a window partition into the front seat. He then got away, stealing the patrol car, police said.
"At some point, they placed this 40-year-old male into the back seat of the patrol car," said SAPD Sgt. Javier Salazar. "Somehow that suspect was able to get his handcuffs to the front of his body and was able to get through the window in the partition between the back seat and front seat. It's a very small window."
The police unit that Davila allegedly stole was found at East Crockett Street and Saint George Street on the East Side around 3 p.m.
Police are now asking people to be on the lookout for Davila. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 200 pounds and has tattoos on both arms, wrist, knee and forearm. He was wearing a ripped gray T-shirt, shorts and is believed to still have his handcuffs on.
According to police, he may also have some lacerations to his face
Anyone with any information on Davila's whereabouts is urged to call SAPD immediately.