16-year-old charged in connection to stolen vehicles in Rowan County
Around 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, deputies were looking for a stolen Kia near East Ritchie Road after the car's owner said there was a tracking device on it and it showed to be in that area. Deputies were able to find the stolen Kia in a wooded area off the dead end of East Ritchie Road, along with two other Kias that were reportedly stolen.
While processing the scene of those vehicles, deputies got a call about a blue Kia that ran a woman off the road in the direction of East Ritchie Rd. Earlier, deputies learned from officers in Salisbury that there was a stolen blue Kia that had yet to be found, officials said.
Deputies saw the blue Kia pull up to the area with two juveniles inside. When the suspects saw the deputies, the driver quickly turned, crossing over a ditch, and almost hit the tow truck on the scene.
Driver arrested after crash injures 3 children at lemonade stand in Burke County
A pursuit began, and the suspects led officers on Old Concord Road towards Cabarrus County at speeds of 70-100 mph. Deputies tried multiple times to end the pursuit by executing a PIT maneuver (aka the Precision Immobilization Technique), but failed because the driver served and hit the deputy's patrol vehicle.
A PIT maneuver was finally successful, ending the pursuit in Cabarrus County at the intersection of Old Concord Road and Irish Potato Road. The deputy's vehicle was damaged during the pursuit after a tire came off the suspect's vehicle.
The two juveniles were the only ones in the vehicle and were taken into custody. Neither was injured; however, the passenger agreed to be taken to a hospital to get checked out.
Deputies were denied a secure custody order when they asked the Department of Juvenile Justice about one for felony fleeing to elude arrest, and assault with a deadly weapon on law enforcement.
According to the sheriff's office, due to the fact that the secure custody order was denied, and in the State of North Carolina, certain chapter 20, motor vehicle laws are not subject to Raise the Age and are handled in adult court. The 16-year-old driver was charged with felony flee to elude arrest and booked in a juvenile detention facility under a $50,000.00 bond.
Authorities said the case is still under investigation and more charges are likely to be filed with juvenile court authorities.
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