Authorities in Florida have used two perfect PIT maneuvers to stop the 15-year-old driver of a red Toyota RAV4 that was allegedly stolen and taken for a joyride last weekend.
The dramatic scenes started shortly after reports were made about a stolen vehicle from Riverview traveling along I-75 at around 4:10 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. It didn’t take long before police cruisers and a helicopter started to chase the young driver and his passenger.
Footage from the police helicopter shows that at an early stage in the chase, police tried to force the driver to pull over on the side of a large highway. However, the driver refused and veered across a grass median before linking back up with the highway. As the chase progressed, police decided it was a good idea to terminate it as quickly as possible.
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To do so, one of the police vehicles can be seen closing in on the RAV4 on the Selmon Expressway. The officer then tags the rear quarter of the Toyota, spinning it around. However, the driver continued in their attempt to flee, prompting the same officer to initiate a second PIT maneuver. Surrounded by three police vehicles, the 15-year-old had nowhere to run and was taken into custody.
The New York Post reports that the 15-year-old behind the wheel was charged with aggravated battery on law enforcement with a deadly weapon, grand theft auto, and fleeing to elude at high speed. In addition, the 14-year-old passenger was charged with grand theft auto.
Local sheriff Chad Chronister says that the two teens were able to easily steal the Toyota as it was left unlocked and running in a driveway. “Unfortunately, there are people in our community who never learned, that if something is not theirs, don’t touch it,” said Chronister. He urged residents “to lock your car, no matter how quickly you’re going to be inside your home.”