In a late-night traffic blunder that quickly spiraled into a desert chase, San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies apprehended a 14-year-old boy on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and felony evasion, the department reported. The incident started at the intersection of Kiowa Road and Lone Eagle Road in Apple Valley, CA, when Sgt. B. Grimm of the Apple Valley Police Department attempted to stop the young driver from running a stop sign just after midnight on December 18.
The teen sped away, leading authorities on a pursuit that ended up off-road near State Highway 18 and Pauhaska Road. The deputies finally caught up, they discovered the driver and any potential passengers had fled the stolen vehicle on foot into the expansiveness of the desert. Deputies T. Belvin and B. Clancy spotted the minor attempting to escape and swiftly detained him, reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.
The unnamed young suspect from Victorville was subsequently booked at the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center while the rightful owner of the vehicle was notified to reclaim their property. The authorities have yet to determine if other individuals were involved in the incident or if the juvenile was acting alone as the sole occupant of the stolen vehicle.
Law enforcement is seeking the public's help for any additional details surrounding the case – Deputy Belvin with the Apple Valley Sheriff's Station is the point of contact for tips which can also be submitted anonymously through the We-Tip Hotline, as the investigation remains active. The department's outreach underscores a community-centric approach, hoping to fill in the gaps that a desolate desert escape leaves behind.
