Memphis police cruiser carjacked, set afire

A 31-year-ld man started the new year off bold enough to tussle with three Memphis police officers, escape in a police cruiser, steal a shotgun, crash the cruiser and set it on fire.

The incident unfolded around 3:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Hubbert. Several officers were checking on a stolen SUV call. Officers saw a vehicle in the rear of the apartments that matched the description of a GMC Yukon that was carjacked earlier in the night near Tutwiler and Claybrook.

Police noticed two subjects, Issac H. Porterfield and his 15-year-old son, removing the wheels from the Yukon. The teen was detained by police and put inside a police cruiser.

Porterfield fought with three officers and was able to wrestle free after officers tried to handcuff him. During the altercation the man got into a police cruiser and sped off, police said.

One of the officers who wrestled with Porterfield suffered a head wound, but has since been treated and released from a hospital.

While police were searching for their missing cruiser, dispatch received a call from a citizen at around 5:15 a.m. saying they saw a police cruiser on fire at a dead end street on Montgomery near Snowden.

Upon arrival, police noticed the set afire cruiser had been driven into a guard rail. They noticed a shotgun that was inside the recovered police cruiser was missing.

There is an arrest warrant for Porterfield, who has been charged with Theft of Property $10,000 - $60,000, Vandalism $10,000 - $60,000, and Assault.

The FBI is also actively involved in this case.

If you can assist police in locating the unidentified man who stole a police cruiser, you are urged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.