ONLY ON ABC57: Bodycam footage shows search for man who stole police car

CASSOPOLIS, Mich.-- ABC57 obtained body camera footage from the Cass County Sheriff's Office, showing the search for the suspect, Andy Freshour, who ditched a stolen police car to flee on foot through swampy terrain.

More than a month after the incident, ABC57 has yet to get any kind of interview or further information from the Cassopolis Police Department.

A Cassopolis officer was attempting to arrest Freshour at his home on May 28 for a probation violation. Freshour was somehow able to distract the officer, slip into her seat, and drive off. ABC57 learned Wednesday that he also somehow finagled his way out of his handcuffs.

In the bodycam footage, you can see officers from multiple police agencies, guns drawn, looking for the man they deemed armed and dangerous. You can also hear a drone overhead, courtesy of the Pokagon Band Tribal Police.

The officers were forced to trek through the swampy terrain.

"Be advised, we can't see anything in front of us, it's too tall," said one sheriff's deputy.

After winding and weaving through the thick wetland brush, they got their suspect. Freshour can be heard yelling in the footage, complaining about his toe. He said he lost or ditched his shoes in the muck.

Officers had to escort Freshour, this time in handcuffs, back through the swampy terrain.

He eventually finds himself in a squad car once again, where a sheriff's deputy reads him his Miranda rights, then starts asking some questions.

"How'd you get the cuffs off?" the deputy asked.

"Slipped 'em off," Freshour replied, saying he messed up his hands in the process.

The deputy can also be heard asking, "Can you point out where the rifle might be in the weeds?"

Freshour somehow freed the rifle in the police squad car he stole and hid it in the swamp, hence why he was considered armed and dangerous.

Freshour requests a lawyer in the video, then asks for a hit of someone's vape.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz previously testified that the gun was found by a police canine, buried along with police body armor.

ABC57 is still looking to interview a representative of the Cassopolis Police Department, which has yet to accept any of our interview requests. On Wednesday, ABC57 called, emailed, and showed up in person at the police department, but were once again told "no comment."