Suspect fires found handgun in back of Mt. Vernon police cruiser

New details have been released regarding a woman who fired a weapon in the back of a patrol car at Mercy Hospital in Aurora. 

While in Mt. Vernon police custody, Sarah Beth Collins found a loaded handgun in the back of a patrol vehicle according to Dave Hubert, chief of police in Mt. Vernon. 

Mt. Vernon police was transferring Collins to a Mercy Hospital in Aurora for a confinement check after arresting her on Feb. 2. While driving, an officer reported a boom coming from the backseat, which was later identified to be a gunshot.

The shot came from a weapon that was found in the backseat of the car according to Hubert. He said that the weapon was left by another suspect, one they eventually released after a search. 

Hubert stated that officers had detained and searched a man before picking up Collins. Hubert said that while the man’s belongings were being searched, he was placed in the back of the patrol car, the same place he would leave the gun. 

Collins found the weapon and eventually fired it in the patrol car, said Hubert. The woman was then be tased, causing her to fire another shot. She stated that she was not trying to injure any police officers. The gun was identified as a Smith and Wesson revolver with the serial number removed. Hubert confirmed that neither of the two shots were fired at an officer. 

Hubert said that the department is taking steps to mitigate situations like this in the future. 

“We have strengthened our policies and procedures on searching the car at the beginning of the shift,” said Hubert. “If anybody is arrested or put in there, they are searched. The vehicle is searched before they are put in there and then after they’re taken out.”

Collins was being transported to the hospital in Aurora following an incident in which she was assumed to have committed theft and then reportedly resisted arrest. 

She is being charged with multiple crimes for both of these incidents including:

-Property Damage – First Degree - damage to motor vehicle with intent

-Stealing

-Resisting/Interfering with Arrest, Detention or Stop

-Assault – Third Degree – Special Victim

Collins arraignment was scheduled for May 11.