Escaped Inmate Steals Animal Control Truck, Hits Employee, Wrecks During Chase

June 2, 2021

An inmate is back in custody after stealing an animal control truck, striking an employee, and leading police on a chase that ended with a five-vehicle wreck.

The work release inmate was identified as 39-year old Candace Lane Garcia of Cantonment , who was arrested in April for a probation violation,  resisting arrest, and fraud for giving a false identification to a law enforcement officer. She is expected to face additional charges for the escape and chase.

At about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Garcia took the animal control truck from the shelter on Fairfield Drive and hit an employee as she fled, according to authorities.

“An Animal Welfare employee was struck by the vehicle and is currently being assessed,” Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale said.

The stolen animal control truck was pursued by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Pensacola Police Department. Garcia wrecked at North Davis Highway and Brent Lane, with four other vehicles involved in the crash. One person was injured and transported to a local hospital.

Garcia was taken into custody following the crash.

A dog that was in the animal control truck is okay, Coale said, and was returned to the shelter.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Escaped Inmate Steals Animal Control Truck, Hits Employee, Wrecks During Chase”

  1. Frustrated on June 3rd, 2021 11:06 am

    Let’s make criminals actually PAY for the destruction they cause and maybe stuff like this wouldn’t happen so often. Ok, so you damaged 5 cars….you gotta fix those 5 cars before you can get out of jail. And while we’re at it, maybe make jail suck instead. Bread, water, roof over head, and a toilet….is plenty for survival but you don’t wanna stay there so you work your butt off until you’ve paid for your damages.
    Teenager vandalizing property – they do the work to clean it up. So many choices!

  2. Susie on June 3rd, 2021 10:10 am

    They should let that poor dog take that inmate for a ride while she’s in a cage. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know her way around here or she would’ve taken a better route than Davis & Brent. Maybe she should have let the dog drive. GOOD JOB ESCO!

  3. B. Johnson on June 3rd, 2021 10:01 am

    This incident occurred while animals were being unloaded from the vehicle and the animal control officer was next to the vehicle, so I understand the vehicle not being locked. The real question is where was the supervision by the corrections officer over the inmates and shelter director over the corrections officer?

  4. Niknak50 on June 3rd, 2021 7:56 am

    Four other vehicles involved in crash, meaning property people worked hard to pay for and take care of. Possibly without means of transportation now, but the dog is o.k. I’m sure the people who suffered loss are ecstatic, after learning the dog is ok.

  5. People on June 3rd, 2021 6:56 am

    I hope the person is okay that went to the hospital. Does anyone know how they are doing?

  6. Just Sayin on June 2nd, 2021 10:24 pm

    I hope all parties and puppies involved are ok. Maybe next time take the keys out of the truck and make it harder for them to steal it.

  7. Breambuster on June 2nd, 2021 4:50 pm

    Dog should be pardoned…been thru a lot…riding with idiot that cant drive..

  8. Bewildered on June 2nd, 2021 4:30 pm

    This trash bag Garcia should have to clean and scrub until she pays every cent of the damages she caused!

  9. Paul on June 2nd, 2021 3:10 pm

    When someone does something like this they need to be locked up for a Looong time.
    It’s a total disregard for the safety and lives to others.
    If I was dealing the time it wouldn’t be less than 10 yrs.

  10. Love Dogs on June 2nd, 2021 2:59 pm

    Thank God the dog is okay! I hope he finds the best home ever after having to deal with that. I hope they slap some extra charges on that moron.

  11. NOT HAPPY on June 2nd, 2021 1:35 pm

    GLAD DOG OK. SHELTER SHOULD SAY WITH PICTURE WHAT HAPPEN-D MAY SOMEONE CAN ADOPT.HOPE PEPOLE ARE OK. I WAS THERE A FEW YRS AGO LOOKING FOR LOST PUP. INMATES WERE CLEANING PINS & LOOKED GLAD NOT TO BE AT OTHER JAIL . !!

  12. Dogs are cool on June 2nd, 2021 12:44 pm

    “A dog that was in the animal control truck is okay, Coale said, and was returned to the shelter.”

    The main thing I was concerned about.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News