Slippery Suspect: Police Remove Snake From Patrol Car Engine

PARK FOREST, Ill. (AP) — How do you handcuff a snake?

Police in Park Forest spent 30 minutes removing a snake from the engine of a patrol car Wednesday night.

Last night Chief Mannino did a ride-along with Officer Walden for a few hours. It might be a long time before Chief Mannino decides to do another ride-along. #ParkForestWildlife #snakesinasquadcar #thatsthebiggestwildsnakeweveseen #notmyjob #someonecallazoologist #nope pic.twitter.com/QHSa0RH7WG

— Park Forest Police (@ParkForestPD) June 6, 2019

Chief Chris Mannino and another officer stopped their car when they spotted the 3-foot-long snake in the road. But the slippery serpent didn't surrender; it escaped under the car and into the engine area.

Mannino says he finally was able to grab the snake behind its head and safely remove it. After police posted photos on Twitter, readers recognized it as a snake that's native to northern Illinois.

The snake wasn't in custody for long. Police released it in a nearby forest.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)