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Bainbridge Public Safety and Decatur County Sheriff’s Office joined together early Sunday morning to track down a subject who stole a patrol vehicle from DCSO Deputy Garret Hanks.

Alicia Barrineau texted Hanks in the early morning hours asking him to come to a provided address for an unknown situation. Hanks arrived to a volatile situation and agreed to take Barrineau home and away from the situation.

Barrineau got her clothing and other belongings and put them in the trunk of the vehicle before Hanks put her in the back of the car to take her home.

“He did everything by the book, just the way he should have,” Sheriff Wiley Griffin said.

Upon arriving at Barrineau’s home, Hanks went to get her belongings out of the trunk and Barrineau hopped in the front seat and took off in the vehicle.

Hanks immediately called into Decatur/Grady 911 and advised them of what had happened and that Barrineau was headed into town.

BPS Officer Robert Green observed Barrineau and activated his emergency lights to initiate a stop.

Barrineau eventually stopped and pulled over at the intersection of Alice Street and Washington Street. Green exited the vehicle and drew his weapon, before DCSO deputies arrived on scene and approached Barrineau before taking her into custody.

Barrineau was charged with theft. However, this is not her first run in with the law.

In April 2018 Barrineau was charged with stealing an ambulance after officers took her to the hospital for a mental evaluation.

Due to Barrineau having no priors, she was charged with theft by taking and failure to stop.

She was charged as a first offender, but with this new arrest she has violated her status as a first offender.

Sheriff Griffin said Barrineau took advantage of Hanks and her status as first offender, and he plans to revisit that charge and try and revoke it.

At this time, the situation is still being reviewed but Griffin knows Hanks followed policy and was just unaware of the previous situation with Barrineau.