Centralia Police arrested a 14-year-old juvenile boy on multiple charges after he is accused of hot wiring a car and leading Centralia Police on a high-speed chase.
Centralia Police say the incident began late Sunday night when a car was reported stolen from the 500 block of Sarah Drive. The resident saw the car being driven away after hearing a noise outdoors.
Police spotted two vehicles matching the description near Frazier and Pleasant Street around 12:45 Monday morning. After a license plate check indicated one of the two Kia Optimas was the stolen vehicle being sought. the driver allegedly refused to stop for police and led them on a short pursuit that reached 85 miles per hour before a Central City officer deployed stop sticks at Broadway and Locust and was able to flatten two of the tires. The vehicle stopped a few blocks away in the 100 block of South Maple. Police say the juvenile actively resisted and kicked two Centralia Police officers before being tased and taken into custody.
The juvenile was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, two counts of aggravated assault to a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding police, no valid driver’s license, speeding more than 35 miles over the speed limit, disobeying a traffic control device, reckless driving, criminal damage to property, resisting arrest, and possession of burglary tools. He was released to a parent after not scoring enough points to be detained.
Meanwhile, police say the second Kia Optima was later located in the 600 block of South Sycamore. After it was found to have been hot-wired like the other Kia with damage to the steering column, the owner was contacted and confirmed it had been stolen from the 500 block of Briarwood.
Police believe the juvenile was involved in both thefts along with a second person who has not been located. The vehicle found on South Sycamore is undergoing processing by State Police Crime Scene Investigation to try and find additional information on who else may have been responsible.
