12-year-old leads Michigan police on chase after stealing forklift from school
11/28/2023 12:33 pm PST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (TCD) -- Police detained a 12-year-old boy after he stole a forklift from a middle school and led police on a lengthy chase throughout the city.
According to Ann Arbor Police, on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 6:45 p.m., officers were called to Forsythe Middle School on Newport Road regarding a juvenile trying to steal a forklift. Three minutes later, police found the construction vehicle driving southbound without safety lights on. Several police officers engaged in a pursuit with emergency lights and sirens, though their speed did not surpass 20 mph.
Ann Arbor Police shared footage of the pursuit in a 30-minute video in which the officer strategizes with his partner and tells the boy to pull over.
Police said the forklift hit about 10 cars during the pursuit. No one was injured.
About half an hour later, at 7:18 p.m., Ann Arbor Police stopped the chase after the forklift crossed the M-14 highway. Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies took over the pursuit until the juvenile stopped driving at 7:53 p.m.
Police identified the driver only as a 12-year-old boy from Ann Arbor. Officers took him into custody and booked him in the juvenile detention center.
According to police, the boy managed to steal the construction equipment because it was unlocked and the keys were hidden inside. That specific type of forklift can weigh up to 35,000 pounds, police said.
Ann Arbor Police said in the statement, "This was a very dangerous situation that could’ve easily ended with serious injuries."
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