As the New Year began, three male juveniles were entangled in a high-speed pursuit following a string of vehicle thefts. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, the suspects, whose identities remain undisclosed due to their age, have been connected to several car heists, particularly targeting Kia and Hyundai models.
In the earliest hours of January 1, a white Hyundai Elantra was spotted hurtling down K Street, shortly after an attempted theft was reported; Deputy Perkins, on duty, attempted to pull over the car which was soon discovered to be stolen out of Needles, from there the situation escalated into a high-speed chase and despite efforts two of the teen bandits escaped on foot. Their freedom was short-lived as they were apprehended promptly after by Deputy Nilsen and Deputy Mestas while the third suspect managed to take the car across state lines to Arizona before ditching the vehicle and making a run for it into the desert, initially evading arrest.
However, peace was quickly restored when, by mid-morning, the Colorado River Station joined by San Bernardino County Probation officers served search warrants at two apartments on Lillyhill Drive. During the raid, officers discovered incriminating evidence tying the trio to the thefts and, importantly, recovered a stolen firearm, the youngest suspect, who had driven the car to Arizona was found and taken into custody at this location.
All three youths were apprehended and at least one was sent off to face the consequences at Juvenile Hall in Apple Valley as per the report. The Sheriff's Office is keeping a tight lid on the details but urged those with any knowledge of the thefts to reach out to Deputies Perkins or Deruiter via their hotline, and for those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can also be submitted through the WeTip Hotline or online at www.wetip.com, the community can stay informed about updates and safety advisories by following the Colorado River Station's official social media pages.
