police chase

Police: 10-year-old leads officers in chase after stealing car to buy Coke

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

10-year-old driver leads police in chase

Police say a very young driver led them in a chase.

FOSTORIA, OH (KTRK) -- A 10-year-old boy is in hot water after he allegedly led police on a high-speed chase in his parent's stolen vehicle.

Officers in Fostoria, Ohio, said they reached speeds of more than 70 miles per hour after the young driver refused to pull over on State Route 199.

At one point, officers said the boy was nearly careened into a semi-trailer.

"Almost lost control, almost made a head-on with a semi-tractor trailer," Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno said. "And then, actually hit the curb, causing some damage to the tire and rim, so the car became inoperable."

The car stopped in the parking lot of a Bob Evans restaurant, and when officers approached, they found the boy behind the wheel.

Officers said the boy confessed to taking the car and driving 11 miles into town to buy some soda at a Circle K gas station.

That is when police began to follow the vehicle.

Chief Loreno said this act is a warning to all parents.

A girl now knows her punishment for a high-speed chase in Montgomery County

"Children have a natural curiosity, I don't care how old they are," Loreno said. "They're going to get into things...it's no different than putting the cigarette lighter away or the matches. Put [your keys] in a different spot and put some protections in there."

The 10-year-old juvenile is now charged with fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

The parents will not be charged. However, the Seneca County Juvenile Court and child protective services are investigating.