In an unusual law enforcement situation, Michigan State Police found themselves chasing after a stolen vehicle driven by a minor. The driver in question was a 10-year-old boy who led officers on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen Buick Encore SUV.
The incident unfolded on May 27 in Saginaw County, Michigan. The law enforcement was alerted by OnStar, General Motors’ in-vehicle emergency service, that a 2017 Buick Encore had been taken from a residence in Buena Vista Township.
As reported, the stolen vehicle was clocking high speeds on the southbound lane of I-75. Observant drivers alerted authorities, noticing a young child recklessly navigating the vehicle.
State Troopers managed to locate the SUV near Birch Run exit. Their attempts to initiate a traffic stop were, however, fruitless as the young driver refused to comply. With the situation escalating, OnStar remotely disabled the vehicle, which consequently hit a guardrail.
Despite the abrupt halt, the child showed a determination to evade authorities. He abandoned the vehicle and tried
to escape on foot. This effort proved unsuccessful, as officers swiftly detained him.
A dashboard camera footage obtained from the State Police documented the SUV’s erratic path across the highway lanes before its sudden halt against the guardrail.
The boy, who was staying with relatives at the time, revealed his motives to the State Police. Barely five feet tall, he confessed to taking the vehicle with the intention of driving to Detroit to be with his mother.
Fortuitously, no one was harmed during the episode, and the vehicle only sustained minor damage. The boy was taken to the Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center.
The prospect of any charges being laid against the 10-year-old remains uncertain at this time. Consistent with protocol in juvenile matters, his name has been withheld from public disclosure.