Two teenagers have been taken into custody following a high-speed incident involving what police believe were stolen vehicles in Columbus, Ohio. According to reports by WBNS, Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert stated that the officers spotted two closely following cars, a Kia Forte and a Ford Focus, in the Hilltop neighborhood around 8:37 p.m. on Wednesday. The Kia was known to be stolen, while the Ford bore out-of-state plates and is still under investigation to confirm its status.
The officers attempted a traffic stop on West Broad Street, but the vehicles quickly fled. Despite this, Albert claimed the officers intentionally chose not to pursue the suspects directly, aiming instead to rely on a police helicopter to track their movement. This helicopter provided aerial support while additional officers were deployed to try and intercept the teenagers. "The officers immediately knew one of the vehicles, a Kia Forte, was confirmed as stolen," said Albert in a statement by WHIO.
The chase led to both vehicles reportedly driving at high speeds throughout the city, disregarding traffic control and endangering public safety. Around 8:52 p.m., the cars were parked in a field near Buckeye Middle School, where, again, the Kia was abandoned, and another suspected stolen car was discovered. The Ford Focus, however, continued to flee from the field, maneuvering recklessly across the city's West Side and Near East Side, as reported by The Dispatch.
Despite the efforts to stop the vehicle with stop sticks, the pursuit abruptly ended when the Ford Focus was involved in a crash on Linwood and Reinhard avenues after failing to heed a stop sign and being T-boned by another motorist. Both 17-year-old males in the Ford were apprehended. "You're talking about a (driver) that doesn't stop for police and proceeds to drive extremely recklessly throughout our city, putting many people's lives in danger — without the police behind you," Sgt. Albert told The Dispatch.
Following the crash, the Ford Focus driver was transported to OhioHealth Grant Hospital in stable condition, while the passenger was detained without reported injuries. Thankfully, the other individuals involved in the collision with the Dodge Charger were not harmed. Charges are pending against the teens, including felony fleeing, and further charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
