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Alleged Library Book Thief Sparks Chase

Posted on: Monday, 19 July 2004, 06:00 CDT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A 36-year-old man led police on a brief car chase, driving on sidewalks, through parking lots and even against traffic on a busy boulevard, so he wouldn't get caught with stolen library books, according to police.

"The officers were a little taken back when they found out what the deal was. They couldn't believe it," said Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan, who added police broke off pursuit because the situation Sunday became too dangerous.

"It was stupid and reckless," said Connellan.

There were no injuries, and - even more amazingly, Connellan said - no property damage.

Byron Haynes of Syracuse was to be arraigned Monday in Syracuse City Court on misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, petit larceny and reckless driving, as well as numerous traffic infractions.

Haynes offered no explanation to police when he was arrested, Connellan said.

Connellan did not have the titles or authors of the five stolen books but said they all dealt with Jewish religion. The books were swiped from Syracuse University's Bird Library, which has substantial holdings of rare books, manuscripts and collections, including original writings of authors Joyce Carol Oates and Dr. Benjamin Spock, 19th-century reformer Gerritt Smith and transcontinental railway builder Collis Huntington.

"Our special collections are kept on the sixth floor. Access to that area is very regulated. These were taken off the shelves that everyone has access to," said Kevin Morrow, a university spokesman.

Haynes was not a university student, Morrow said.

An officer spotted Haynes running a stop sign about 4:30 p.m. Sunday near the library. Moments earlier, a suspect had fled the building with the stolen books, setting off the building's alarms as he ran out the doors.

The car chase lasted about 10 minutes. A dozen police cruisers were involved, although only three or four chased Haynes. During the chase, officers saw the suspect toss a backpack out the car window, Connellan said. When they recovered it, they found the stolen books.

"We assumed it was drugs or guns the way he was driving," Connellan said. "We even brought in a canine to go through the car. Nothing."

Onondaga County deputies in a helicopter tracked Haynes until he tried to ditch his car at a city park. City police arrested him after a short foot chase.

Connellan said investigators were doing a background check on Haynes.

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