What started as a stolen-vehicle alert in a south side park ended with three kids in custody Friday evening, after deputies say a brief chase ended in a wrong-way turn and a crash into a fence. Two of the juveniles were detained near the wrecked vehicle and a third was found a few blocks away. The children, a 12-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, were interviewed and booked into custody.
What deputies say
According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 6:30 p.m. Friday when a stolen-vehicle alert was issued in Kosciuszko Park. Deputies later spotted the vehicle and reported seeing two people in the front seat wearing dark ski masks.
Deputies initiated a short pursuit before the car turned onto a wrong-way street near South 11th Street and West Arthur Avenue and crashed into a fence. Responding deputies initially found the vehicle empty. They then located two juveniles near the crash site and a third inside a home several blocks away, according to WTMJ.
Where it happened
Kosciuszko Park is listed at 2201 S. 7th St. in Milwaukee County’s facility directory. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office outlines on its public site how deputies patrol county parks and respond when a stolen-vehicle alert originates from a park property.
Legal next steps
The sheriff’s office said all three juveniles were interviewed and booked into custody, and that charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, according to WTMJ. Prosecutors will review the referral and decide whether to file formal charges.
A pattern of youth car thefts
This case fits into a broader pattern local outlets have been tracking involving young teens, stolen cars and short chases that end in crashes. In March, CBS 58 reported that three juveniles between the ages of 12 and 14 were arrested after an alleged armed carjacking and police chase. Archival coverage at TMJ4 documents other multi-teen pursuits earlier this year that also ended with crashes and felony referrals.
