TROY, Mich., March 29 -- What started as a typical call from an OnStar subscriber to report a stolen vehicle ended with the capture of one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives.
The case, involving Terrence K. Washington, was featured on the March 27 episode of "America's Most Wanted." The show also highlighted OnStar's role in Washington's capture
On March 7, OnStar subscriber Raiford Brown woke to find his 2004 HUMMER H2 missing from the driveway of his home in Brentwood, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. Brown called the Williamson County Sheriff's Department to report the theft. After filing a police report, the sheriff's department called OnStar to assist in the recovery of the vehicle.
OnStar Advisor Lewis Baldwin answered the stolen vehicle call and after retrieving the necessary information from the subscriber and the police report, he began efforts to locate the HUMMER H2. Within minutes, the advisor pinpointed the whereabouts of the vehicle, which had crossed the state line into Sharonville, Ohio.
With Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and wireless cellular technologies, OnStar can assist the police by locating a vehicle even if it's moving. The advisor provided the sheriff's department with continuous updates as he monitored the movements of the stolen HUMMER. The information was relayed to the local authorities in the jurisdiction in which the vehicle was located.
The HUMMER H2 was located in Sharonville, Ohio and local authorities apprehended the suspect.
It wasn't until the suspect was in custody that police learned his true identity. Fingerprint information submitted to the FBI revealed that the suspect was in fact an escaped felon. Washington, who had originally given the arresting officers an alias, was awaiting trial on federal bank robbery charges when he escaped from a Louisiana jail in July 2003. He had been a fugitive ever since.
Ironically, the FOX crime-solving television show "America's Most Wanted" featured Washington the day before his arrest on March 7. With OnStar's help Sharonville police were able to nab the felon wanted on eight federal warrants.
OnStar regularly assists law enforcement in locating subscribers' stolen vehicles. In doing so, OnStar has helped police crack related crimes, including auto-theft rings, carjackings and robberies.
OnStar responds to about 800 stolen vehicle location requests each month. Stolen vehicle location is just one of more than a dozen services available to the more than 2.5 million OnStar subscribers on the road today.
The OnStar call centers are staffed 24 hours, 365 days a year by a group of highly trained service advisors. Once "on-line" with subscribers, these advisors can alert a public safety answering point (PSAP) for emergency help, contact a roadside assistance provider, remotely unlock a vehicle's doors or work to locate a stolen vehicle.
OnStar is available on more than 50 models from General Motors including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn, and select models from Acura, Audi, Isuzu, Subaru, Volkswagen and Lexus (branded LexusLink).
About OnStar
OnStar, available on a range of vehicles from seven auto manufacturers and 13 RV manufacturers, is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology. OnStar RV Special Edition services include stolen vehicle assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with location, route support, and convenience services. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide cellular network and access traffic and weather reports, as well as sports scores, stock quotes and news through Virtual Advisor. More information about OnStar can be found at
www.onstar.com . OnStar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors (NYSE: GM - News).