Some kids like to play cops and robbers with their friends, usually on their computers, but one youngster from Ohio had different plans, as the 12-year old wanted to try a real life version of the game.
The unnamed boy, who according to his father, had been watching online videos of police chases the previous night, woke up the next morning and drove off with his parents’ Chevrolet van, but he didn’t stop there.
According to the police report, after a short drive, he stole a second vehicle, a 1999 Ford extended cab pickup truck in Wayne County to travel to Tuscarawas County where he abandoned it and took a third vehicle (!), a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
But as they say, third time’s a charm as the cops received a call about a reckless driver in downtown Sugarcreek.
The police soon spotted the 12-year old boy and started pursing him. Following a 20-minute chase covering around 15 miles (24 kilometers) at speeds of up to 65mph (105 km/h), sometimes in a 35mph (56 km/h) zone, and after the boy successfully managed to evade a few spike strips, he failed to do the same on Route 93, with the spikes sending the truck into a field.
A deputy officer and his K-9 chased the young boy on foot and quickly apprehended him.
Police chief Kevin Kaser told 10TV News that he’s never seen anything like this. “You look through the back window of the truck, you don’t even see a driver. It’s just like a ghost driving the vehicle. There’s nobody there,” he said. “They told us the runaway juvenile was 12 years old. He’s 12-years-old! I mean, you’re talking elementary school!”
The 12-year old, who was detained and sent to juvenile detention, now faces several charges including grand theft and felony fleeing and eluding.
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