Youth leads police on high-speed chase

The car raced at speeds of 40 to 50 mph through eight stop signs and three traffic lights before crashing head-on with a light pole near the 100 block of East Grant Road.

The driver and 17-year-old passenger were both referred to the Pima County Juvenile center on charges of auto theft, endangerment, burglary, resisting arrest and unlawful flight.

The 14-year-old male had an additional charge of reckless driving. The young boy had been reported missing a few days before the incident.

The passenger admitted the car was stolen, but told university police he did not assist the young boy in "hot wiring" the car, reports stated. Police found a screwdriver and a flashlight in the vehicle.

However, police reports stated that the 14-year-old boy denied the car was stolen and said "some man" had given him permission to drive it.

University police were heading east near the 700 block of East Fourth Street about 11:50 p.m. when the officer saw a 1988 Chevrolet sedan with two males driving north on North Bean Avenue without headlights on.

The vehicle then turned onto East Fourth Street and headed west. When police got behind the car, the driver turned on the lights and sped north on North Third Avenue, making a right onto East University Boulevard without stopping.

The car then circled back into the West University Neighborhood and weaved through several streets, ignoring a stop sign at North Fourth Avenue, then heading south in the northbound lane of North Fourth Avenue until making a right and going west on East S eventh Street.

According to reports, people along the street were yelling, "get 'em."

Additional university police and Department of Public Safety officers joined the chase and attempted to intercept the vehicle.

From East Seventh Street, the car again ran a stop sign at North Sixth Avenue and then ran a red light at East Sixth Street, making a left but blowing out the front right tire on the curb.

However, the suspects continued west through a red light at North Stone Avenue, making a right at Main Street and then north onto North Oracle Road.

At East Grant Road, the suspects cut through the Circle K parking lot, and drove east in the left-turn lane. The driver then ran a red light at North Stone Avenue, but lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a light pole at 126 E. Grant Road.

The suspects then climbed out of driver's side window and fled north on North Fontana Avenue, where university police apprehended the youths at gun point.

Both youths sustained minor head injuries from the impact. The car was totaled.