A 13-year-old boy in Gilbert, Arizona, was arrested after taking his mom’s black Chevrolet Tahoe and leading police on a high-speed chase. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the teen was driving dangerously and hit speeds over 100 MPH. The chase started early Monday morning when a Mesa Police helicopter spotted the SUV speeding near Higley and Elliot roads.
In the chase that followed, the young driver evaded multiple attempts by police to stop him, ignoring traffic signals and at times, driving without headlights the SUV was captured on video going airborne over uneven terrain. FOX 10 Phoenix reports the vehicle eventually returned to Gilbert around 2 a.m., where it collided with a handicap railing at a business near Cooper and Baseline roads and not stopping there, it continued before eventually coming to a halt in a neighborhood where the escapade came to an end.
Despite the high speeds and reckless driving, there were no injuries reported. Neighbors were shaken by the events, with one resident stating, in an interview with 12 News, "It was a little bit scary. It was the driver who brought the police to my doorstep. He could have gone anywhere." Another local, Nikki Meza, detailed her experience to 12 News when police woke her husband to search their backyard as part of the pursuit.
Upon detainment, the young driver was taken into custody and is now facing multiple charges, including reckless driving and unlawful flight from law enforcement among others as documented by FOX 10 Phoenix; he has been booked into the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center. The teen reportedly admitted to taking the vehicle without permission to go on a drive, which led not only to his arrest but also to a community grappling with the unexpected disturbance of peace caused by a sudden and brazen disregard for safety in the still of the night.
