Convicted felon accused of stealing parole officer's vehicle while in handcuffs

MONROE, N.C. — A convicted felon is accused of stealing his parole officer’s vehicle and driving off while in handcuffs.

Channel 9 obtained exclusive video from a Monroe police officer’s body-worn camera that shows the moment Louis Gurganus was arrested Tuesday evening.

The state’s Department of Public Safety is investigating how Gurganus managed to steal the vehicle.

A parole officer brought Gurganus to Carolinas Medical Center-Union around 5 p.m. Tuesday after arresting him for a parole violation. Gurganus had complained of a medical issue.

“That’s crazy,” Chris McDaniel in Monroe said when hearing about the incident. “How could he do that being handcuffed?”

A spokesperson for DPS told Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster the officer got out of the vehicle to get a code to enter the hospital and that’s when Gurganus allegedly jumped in the driver’s seat and took off.

“Anytime anybody is fleeing in a vehicle, it creates a dangerous situation for other motorists, other pedestrians,” said Pete Hovanec, a spokesman for Monroe Police.

Police said Gurganus drove 4 miles down Highway 74 and then Highway 601 South. Other drivers called 911 to report the state DPS vehicle driving recklessly.

One caller said, “[He] almost hit a car, went up on the curb, I don’t know if he’s drinking or not.”

Another 911 caller told a dispatcher, “I don’t know if he stole the car or if it’s one of your employees gone crazy.”

Monroe police said Gurganus pulled the vehicle into a wooded area off Whitestore Road, got out and tried to run, but police arrested him.

“He could’ve hurt somebody. It’s crazy,” McDaniel said.

A DPS spokesperson told Channel 9 they do not believe the parole officer broke any policies, but the department is investigating how the incident happened.

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