Lincolnview student steals, crashes 2 cars fleeing cops

VAN WERT - A 16-year-old Lincolnview student was apprehended by the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly fled the school, stole two unlocked vehicles and led officers on two different vehicle pursuits, according to a news release from Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach.

The release states that a Van Wert County juvenile probation officer went to Lincolnview Schools at around 2 p.m. Tuesday to speak with the student about reported threats he'd made to another Lincolnview student via text message.

"Before this conversation could occur, the juvenile ran from the probation officer, exited the school, found an unlocked car with the keys inside, stole the vehicle, left the school property, and traveled in an unknown direction," per the release. "Additional deputies responded to the area and ultimately arrived at the juvenile's residence in York Township. Upon a deputy's arrival at this residence, the juvenile ran out of the house and fled the area in the stolen vehicle."

The deputy then engaged in a "very brief" pursuit, the release states. It ended when the juvenile crashed the vehicle into a ditch on Mendon Road. Detectives later processed this vehicle, and some personal items belonging to the juvenile were found in it along with three handguns that were reportedly possessed by the juvenile.

After the crash, the juvenile reportedly exited the stolen vehicle and began running, according to the release. He ran to a nearby house, where he located another unlocked vehicle with the keys in the ignition, and then allegedly stole that vehicle as well.

"The juvenile fled the area and attempted to evade deputies by driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and blatantly ignoring stop signs," per the release. "Deputies were ordered NOT to pursue the juvenile for the safety of the juvenile and the general public."

However, authorities could still see the juvenile from approximately 1 mile away as he purportedly fled into Spencerville, per the release. Deputies then lost sight of the juvenile's vehicle, and forwarded all relevant information to Allen County law enforcement officials.

Detectives from the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office were able to perform a consensual search of the juvenile's bedroom at the York Township residence, the release states. While there, they located two additional handguns in the juvenile's bedroom.

"A short time later, Allen County, Ohio, law enforcement officials and the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the vehicle the juvenile was driving and attempted to stop him. The juvenile led these officers on a high-speed chase through Allen County, Ohio," according to the release. "The juvenile ultimately crashed the second stolen car near State Route 117 and Queens Lane, where he fled on foot until he hid in a bush at a residence on Squire Lane."

Officers from the Shawnee Township Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol located the juvenile hiding under the bush and took him into custody, the release states. The Van Wert County Sheriff's Office deputies transported the juvenile to the West Central Juvenile Detention Center in Troy, on a commitment order from Van Wert County Juvenile Probation for a probation violation.

Additional charges relating to the incident are expected to be filed against the juvenile in the coming days, the sheriff's office noted.

"It should be noted that there is no evidence that the juvenile possessed a gun, of any type, while at Lincolnview School. All evidence indicates that the juvenile retrieved these handguns from his home after stealing the first vehicle," per the release.