New Castle- The Delaware State Police have arrested a 12-year-old juvenile from New Castle after he led them on a pursuit while in a stolen motor vehicle, according to Public Information Officer, Corporal/1Jason Hatchell.
Hatchell said the incident occurred on July 18, 2020, at approximately 12:10 p.m., when Troopers were dispatched to the Wawa located at 4000 N. DuPont Parkway in New Castle, for a report of a stolen vehicle. A 41-year-old New Castle man went inside to use the ATM and left his red 2003 Ford Ranger running with the doors unlocked in the parking lot. Upon the victim returning to his vehicle he observed it driving away with a young male operating the vehicle.
Troopers canvassed the area and located the stolen vehicle in a parking lot behind a local area motel. A traffic stop was initiated, but the driver refused to stop and pulled out of the parking lot onto Eastbound West Avenue. The pursuit continued onto Lambson Lane where the suspect lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a parked car on the 200 block of Lambson Lane. After the crash, the suspect performed a U-turn and began traveling Westbound on West Avenue at a high rate of speed. In the area of 11th Street, the suspect failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into a guardrail. The juvenile suspect then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. After a brief foot pursuit Troopers took the suspect into custody.
The juvenile was then transported back to Troop 2 where he was charged with the following:
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (felony)
Hindering Prosecution (felony)
Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (felony)
Resisting Arrest
Leaving the Scene of Property Collision Accident
Driving Without a Valid License
Careless Driving
Driving Vehicle at Unreasonable or Imprudent Speed (2 counts)
Failure to Stop At a Stop Sign
Failed to remain within a single lane (2 counts)
Failure to Report a Collision
The juvenile was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and released back to his guardian on $8,008 unsecured bond.