A handcuffed woman managed to escape from a Muskegon Heights police SUV by sliding through a partially open window, an event captured on video that has been shared millions of times online. She was eventually arrested days later and faces multiple felony charges.

The woman is seen replying in the video, but the audio is redacted. "No. I had this problem a couple weeks ago, too. We got pulled over, the Norton Shores cops, because we didn't have our headlights on, and they said the same thing and then they ended up being able to find me somehow," the woman said.

The viral incident occurred on Saturday, March 28, in the area of Norton Avenue and Peck Street in Muskegon Heights. A Muskegon Heights police officer spotted a vehicle parked at an abandoned business near the former Omni Fitness Club while on patrol around 3:30 p.m.

The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with two occupants. Police were able to identify the driver, but the female passenger could not be initially identified. A second officer arrived with a fingerprint scanner, which confirmed the woman's identity as Kendra Aney, 38, and revealed she had an outstanding warrant for an parole violation.

Aney was taken into custody, handcuffed, and placed in the rear seat of a patrol SUV. Approximately one and a half minutes into custody, Aney asked officers to turn down the heat.

"Hey, can you turn the heat down? It's so hot in here. Sir, please?" Aney said.

A window can be heard rolling down, which is also visible in the reflection on the glass partition between the cruiser's backseat and trunk. Aney then squeezed through the partially open window and ran away.

"Dude, she got out," one officer said moments later.

Muskegon Heights Police Chief Maurice Sain confirmed in a news release that the window was halfway down when Aney climbed out. Officers immediately began searching for Aney but were unable to locate her.

Less than an hour after the escape, police responded to a breaking and entering report in the 3300 block of Peck Street. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m., and officers believe Aney was the suspect who broke into the home.

"Muskegon Heights PD would like to thank the citizen who called in and reported the female's location," Chief Sain said.

A Facebook Live video posted by Block Paper Weekly at 3:49 p.m. captured the entire escape, showing Aney climbing through the window while still handcuffed. The video has since been shared hundreds of thousands of times across social media platforms and has drawn national attention.

Aney was eventually located on Tuesday morning by Muskegon Heights police who were tipped off by a caller who reported seeing her in an abandoned home in the 100 block of Rotterdam Street in Muskegon Heights.

Aney was absconding from parole since Jan. 12, 2026, according to her Michigan Department of Corrections file. She was sentenced to a minimum of seven years in prison in 2017 following a plea conviction on a delivering or manufacturing controlled substances charge. She also has two larceny convictions and an operating while intoxicated conviction between 2010 and 2016.

Aney was arraigned on Wednesday in the city's 60th District Court on the following charges:

• One count of malicious destruction of fire or police property, a felony
• One count of escape from lawful custody, a misdemeanor

She is being held at the Muskegon County Jail on a $150,000 bond. Aney is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on April 15 followed by a preliminary examination on April 22, according to court records.

The woman who escaped from Muskegon Heights police by crawling out of a patrol vehicle's window was charged Wednesday, according to court records.

Fox 17 obtained redacted body camera and in-cruiser video through a Freedom of Information Act request, showing the interaction between Aney and Muskegon Heights police officers before she escaped custody.

"So what's your name?" an officer asked Aney during the interaction.

Aney replied that she had experienced the same situation a couple weeks ago when Norton Shores police pulled over her vehicle because they didn't have their headlights on.

"I already advised you, you got to tell me your name. You got to be honest about it. Your name is not popping up in the system. Have you ever had any police contact before?" the officer asked.

While officers were searching the driver's vehicle, Aney waited in the backseat until she could squeeze through the partially open window and make her escape. The video shows nearly 10 minutes between when the SUV window was rolled down and her sliding out and running away.

Muskegon Heights police are still seeking information about the incident and have asked anyone with details to call investigators at 231-733-8900 or Silent Observer at 231-722-7463.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident is asked to contact Muskegon Heights PD at (231) 733-8900 or Silent Observer at (231) 722-7463.

Sources

• https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/muskegon/new-video-shows-womans-viral-escape-from-muskegon-heights-police
• https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2026/03/muskegon-heights-police-search-for-woman-who-escaped-cruiser.html
• https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/suspect-at-large-after-escaping-from-muskegon-heights-police-cruiser-following-arrest/69-01219021-133d-4335-aba0-25f291de0bb3
• https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/handcuffed-woman-who-squeezed-out-window-michigan-police-car-caught-days-after-escape
• https://wwmt.com/news/local/muskegon-woman-charged-escape-police-car-viral-video-kendra-aney-heights-michigan-court-vehicle-footage-window-ran-away-wwmt
• https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/muskegon-heights-woman-escapes-police-car-in-custody-kendra-aney/69-f95025e8-65bd-4bc7-add3-f4ac52f9ae46