Two teenagers are facing charges after their alleged involvement in a vehicle theft and subsequent police chase that ended in a crash in East Baltimore on Wednesday evening. According to FOX Baltimore, police officers noticed a vehicle moving erratically near East North Avenue and Belair Road at around 7:05 p.m. The vehicle had been reported stolen.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, the suspects fled, striking another vehicle near Belair Road and Sinclair Lane, as reported by WMAR-2 News. One suspect attempted to evade the police on foot but was apprehended. The other, the driver, and a woman from the other vehicle involved in the crash were both hospitalized and are said to be stable, the site stated.
The involved teens, ages 15 and 16, have pending charges. While specific details on those charges have not yet been disclosed, recent legal changes in the state have included laws that allow charges for auto theft and illegal gun possession to be laid against children as young as 10 to 12, as highlighted by CBS News Baltimore. These changes come amidst a backdrop of rising juvenile arrests in the city, which, according to State's Attorney Ivan Bates, saw a 146% increase compared to the previous year.
