A 13-year-old boy allegedly stole two vehicles within 24 hours and led authorities on a high-speed chase in Hart and Franklin counties, striking multiple law enforcement vehicles along the way, before troopers used the PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver to stop him.
The juvenile allegedly stole a Honda in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17 before ditching it near Skelton Homes and then later stealing a Chevrolet Impala, according to Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland.
An off-duty deputy spotted the Chevrolet Impala, reported stolen in the city from the Senior Center Wednesday afternoon, and called for back-up to the Lavonia Speedway. The juvenile then drove away down state Route 77 towards Lavonia and allegedly fled deputies who attempted to stop him, reaching speeds of 90-95 mph, the sheriff said.
“We really didn’t know who was in it, but we felt like that was the (stolen) car when he gunned it,” Cleveland said.
During a chase that spanned about 10-12 miles into Franklin County down multiple small roads and eventually back into Hart County on state Route 77, the juvenile allegedly hit multiple law enforcement vehicles.
Georgia State Patrol troopers then used the PIT maneuver to bring the chase to a stop around 4:30 p.m. on state Route 77.
“Nobody was hurt and everything went well, and sure enough, it was a 13-year-old kid,” Cleveland said.
While investigating earlier in the day, Cleveland said investigators put together some “common denominators” about the two stolen vehicles when searching for a suspect. He said the juvenile was already wearing an ankle monitor for previous alleged crime, and he had cut it off his leg.
“He stole his grandmother’s car back in January,” Cleveland said. “He was our prime suspect to begin with.”
Multiple charges are pending against the juvenile, Cleveland said.
The teen was sent to the Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
“I want to thank my investigators and the Georgia State Patrol for ending that chase and it ending safely,” Cleveland said.
