LEESBURG — Leesburg police are searching for Timothy Rowland, 31 of Oglethorpe, after officials say he stole a police car and abandoned it, before running into the woods.

Rowland had his 10-year-old son in the vehicle when he was stopped at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday during a Labor Day roadblock on the downtown intersection of Court House Avenue and 4th Street in Leesburg.

Rowland was cuffed and his vehicle was searched after officials found he had a suspended license.

While in the back of the squad car, Rowland slid out of the handcuffs, jumped out the back window of the patrol car, then got into the driver’s seat and drove off as police continued the search.

Worse, after stealing the police car, Rowland attempted to run over two officers. He drove the car about 500 yards away to the front of Wooden Grove Baptist Church on the intersection of East 1st Street and N. Smithville Road in Leesburg, and ran into the woods. Crisp County K9 units were then brought in to aid in the search.

Leesburg police have issued 8 warrants for Rowland that include two counts of aggravated assault on an officer, theft by taking of government property and cruelty to children.

Rowland’s son was returned to his mother.