ORIGINAL: CASSOPOLIS, Mich. -- The Cassopolis Police Department has released further details regarding the stolen police vehicle incident which occurred Wednesday afternoon.

The incident, which occurred at 1 p.m. Wednesday was not reported by CPD to the public until over three hours later. The suspect was described as armed and dangerous in the initial police press release.

Police say during a police transport, a suspect, described as 43-year-old white man, 5'4", 200 pounds, escaped custody and fled in a marked CPD vehicle.

Authorities say the stolen vehicle was located, and a suspect arrested at around 7:20 p.m. in the 23000 block of Shurte Street in LaGrange Township. True's Towing assisted in the retrieval of the stolen vehicle.

Provided by David Marko

Police say a drone operated by the Pokagon Tribal Police assisted in the situation and played a key role in the suspect's apprehension.

No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the region were immediately alerted and responded and responded to the situation, CPD said.

CPD also released the following statement regarding their communication with the public:

"We understand concerns about the timing of public communication. Our first priority was ensuring a secure response and minimizing public risk. That said, we recognize the importance of timely updates and will review our procedures accordingly.

The Cassopolis Police Department is conducting a full internal review of the incident, including transport protocols, vehicle security, and communications. We remain committed to transparency, safety, and maintaining public trust."