A teenager was arrested Saturday night after allegedly leading Fort Bragg police on a high-speed chase through city streets in a recently stolen car, according to a press release from the Fort Bragg Police Department.
At about 9:30 p.m. on April 19, an officer on patrol near Chestnut and Harrison streets saw a vehicle blow through a stop sign. When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the car sped off, initiating a short but dangerous pursuit, authorities said.
Police say the chase lasted less than a minute and covered under a mile, but the driver reached speeds of up to 70 mph. During the pursuit, the suspect crashed into a street sign at Chestnut Street and South Sanderson Way but continued driving. Moments later, the driver lost control trying to turn at Sanderson Way and East Oak Street, jumping the curb and landing the vehicle in the front yard of a nearby home—narrowly missing the house itself.
The driver then took off on foot, according to the release, but was caught after a short chase by the officer. A few minutes later, dispatchers informed police that the car had just been reported stolen during the pursuit.
Investigators determined the vehicle had been stolen only minutes before the attempted traffic stop.
The suspect, a juvenile from Fort Bragg, was booked into Mendocino County Juvenile Hall on multiple charges, including felony vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading, vandalism, resisting arrest, and hit-and-run.
“This is another example of proactive police work leading to the discovery of a felony in progress and arrest of a danger to public safety,” said Fort Bragg Police Captain Thomas O’Neal in the department’s statement.
The information provided by law enforcement has not been proven in a court of law. Any individuals described in this article should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer Beak at (707) 961-2800 ext. 224.
Fucking teenagers today
I saw a youtube video where an 18 year old led troopers on a high speed chase. The 18 year old had wealthy parents, and the sentence was ultimately suspended, and the young man actually had the record sealed. The 18 year old young man went off to college a few weeks later.
This young man may not be so lucky.