PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Eight juveniles, ages 12 to 16 years old, have been taken into custody by the Pickerington Police Department after a car chase in an alleged stolen vehicle Sunday.
According to Pickerington police, an officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in the Best Western parking lot when two people ran into the back of the vehicle and shut the hatch. The vehicle then fled out of the parking lot onto Tussing Road and attempted to cross State Route 256.
That is when police said the vehicle ran a red light and hit another vehicle.
The suspects continued to drive east but came to a stop on SR-204 at Yarmouth Rd. At that point, additional officers arrived and took the eight suspects into custody.
The suspects range in age and are all residents of Franklin County, according to police.
“They don’t understand how serious it is when they commit these felonies,” Det. Thomas Spreen said. “They think it’s a game. They think they’re going to be back in their bed at the end of the day because they’re juveniles.”
Investigators learned the suspects were involved in three different stolen vehicle incidents in Columbus and Delaware Sunday night. Numerous credit cards were also recovered, police said.
The vehicle involved in this incident and another stolen vehicle was recovered by police officers in Pickerington.
Of the victims whose vehicles were stolen, one was from Canada. Police said that person's identification documents were stolen along with the vehicle, preventing them from returning home.
Several of the suspects were taken to the hospital to be checked. Only minor injuries were reported.
Spreen said the driver of the vehicle has been charged with felonies. The other occupants are facing numerous charges pending in Juvenile Court.