Juveniles lead law enforcement on high speed chase over county roads

Two juveniles were arrested following a 30-minute pursuit that reached high speeds Friday morning, across 31 miles of Highland County and Pike County roadways, after they allegedly stole a vehicle and refused to stop at the instruction of law enforcement. 

According to Sgt. Rob New of the Wilmington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, at approximately 12:51 a.m. Friday a trooper attempted to stop a 1998 Ford Explorer for failing to stop at the intersection on state Route 124 and U.S. 50. 

"The vehicle ignored the officer's signal to stop, the overhead lights, and a pursuit ensued," New said. 

Four law enforcement agencies were eventually involved, including the OSHP, Hillsboro Police Department, Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Greenfield Police Department. 

"The pursuit continued on U.S. 50 through Hillsboro, onto state Route 124, crossed onto 506 and Cynthiana Road and eventually turned east onto 753," New said. 

Stop sticks were deployed twice in an attempt to stop the vehicle. 

A deputy with the HCSO deployed the stop sticks at Barretts Mill Road and Cave Road. The vehicle struck the sticks, causing a flat tire, but the vehicle did not stop. 

"Stop sticks were deployed a second time, on Titus Road and 753 by the Greenfield Police Department," New said. "The vehicle struck those sticks also and traveled off the right side of the roadway and into a private field and stopped. Both occupants, the driver of the vehicle and the passenger, fled on foot and they were arrested without incident after a short foot pursuit."

New said further investigation revealed that the the driver was a 15-year-old and the passenger was 14 years old. The vehicle had allegedly been stolen from the passenger's grandparents, who are the child's custodial agents. 

"We are going to complete our investigation and forward everything to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office for determination on what charges they feel would be appropriate," New said. 

Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said his office is filing charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Ward said the juveniles were released back into the custody of their parents. 

New said that there were no injuries during the pursuit, which reached "high speeds." He declined to specify how the rate of speed was. There were five officers involved from the four law enforcement agencies.