OHIO — A 16-year-old boy is in custody after police say an investigation into threatening messages escalated into two high-speed chases involving stolen vehicles on Tuesday afternoon in Van Wert County.
According to Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach, the incident began around 2 p.m. when a Van Wert Juvenile Probation Officer arrived at Lincolnview Junior/Senior High School to speak with the teen about threatening text messages sent to another student. Before the conversation could begin, the teen ran from the officer, stole an unlocked vehicle with the keys inside, and drove away.
He went to his home, where officers soon arrived. When they approached, the teen got back into the stolen vehicle and led them on a pursuit. The chase ended when he crashed into a ditch on Mendon Road and fled on foot.
Detectives later found three handguns left inside the vehicle. Investigators stressed there is no evidence the teen had a firearm at school; instead, he retrieved the guns from home after taking the vehicle. Two more handguns were found in his bedroom.
After fleeing the crash site, the teen allegedly found another unlocked vehicle with keys inside and stole it, leading officers on a second chase. Police say he reached speeds over 100 mph and ignored multiple stop signs. Deputies were ordered to stop pursuing due to safety concerns, but the vehicle was still visible from nearly a mile away heading toward Spencerville.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Allen County authorities took over the pursuit. The teen eventually crashed the second vehicle near State Route 117 and Queens Lane. He again ran away, attempting to hide in a bush at a home on Squire Lane, where Shawnee Township Police and state troopers located and arrested him.
The teen was taken to the West Central Juvenile Detention Center in Troy on a commitment order for a probation violation. Additional charges are expected.
