Suspect arrested in police vehicle theft

A handcuffed forgery suspect who allegedly stole a police SUV was arrested Monday afternoon near Bonners Ferry.

Shannon L. Kelly, 29, is being held on a $200,000 warrant for felony charges of eluding, escape and grand theft. She was also arrested on three felony counts of forgery and petty theft.

Authorities had been searching for Kelly since Saturday evening, when she allegedly fled in an SUV belonging to the Bonners Ferry Police Department. She had been pulled over on suspicion of forging checks to area businesses.

Officers handcuffed her and placed her in the back of the police SUV while they searched the van she was driving, according to Police Chief Dave Kramer. Police believe she squeezed through a sliding window in the SUV to get into the front seat and drove off.

Kelly, also known as Shannon McClellan, was scheduled to appear in court in Bonner County this week on drug charges, Kramer said.

She is being held in the Boundary County Jail.