13-Year-Old Car Thief Caught

Santa Barbara County – Sgt. Mark Williams, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department reported to the media, the arrest of an unidentified 13-year-old male runaway, following “a high speed chase involving a stolen vehicle.”

According to Williams, the action began late in the evening of February 20^th “when a deputy attempted a traffic stop of a 2004 Nissan Armada SUV” at a Solvang highway intersection.  The deputy noticed the full-sized SUV—the Armada is the largest vehicle in the Nissan model lineup—and began following it when he observed that the rear windshield wipers were operating in spite of the fact that the evening was without noticeable precipitation.  “He thought, ‘This person doesn’t know how to operate a vehicle very well,’” Williams commented to the media.

When the deputy’s vehicle approached the Armada from the rear, the suspect vehicle accelerated, heading eastbound on Highway 246, a high-speed roadway of some local infamy as the site of numerous fatal accidents in recent years.  With the dangers of a high-speed pursuit on the roadway in mind, the deputy observed the Armada approach a velocity of 90 mph, whereupon the deputy slowed and suspended his chase.

Within a mile, however, the deputy discovered that the Armada had veered off the highway and crashed into a shallow roadside ravine.  It was at that time that the driver of the errant vehicle was determined to be a 13-year-old male.  With him in the SUV was a 51-year-old female of undetermined relationship, who was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with minor injuries.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the Armada had been reported stolen from the Morro Bay area, and that the boy was reported as a runaway from Arroyo Grande.  The young man was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, and fleeing with willful disregard for personal safety or property, both felonies.  The case is currently under further investigation by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney.

Read more:

News Channel 3: 13-year-old leads deputies on a high speed chase

Central Coast News: 13-Year-Old Leads Police On High Speed Chase On Highway 246