A 12-year-old boy in Michigan led police on an exciting, one-hour chase through the streets of Ann Arbor while driving a stolen construction vehicle in an unusual and possibly dangerous incident.
The Ann Arbor Police Department reported that the young daredevil, behind the wheel of a Construction Genie GTH-636 Telehandler, struck around 10 parked vehicles during the escapade.
Rampage in the Streets
This unexpected joyride unfolded on November 25, 2023, leaving residents and authorities astonished at the audacity of the pre-teen driver.
The construction vehicle, equipped with a forklift and weighing a staggering 35,000 pounds, was pilfered from outside Forsythe Middle School.
Astonishingly, the young perpetrator found a key inside the cab, enabling him to embark on a reckless journey that could have easily resulted in serious injuries.
The Ann Arbor Police Department emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This was a very dangerous situation that could’ve easily ended with serious injuries.” The incident is now an active and ongoing criminal investigation.
Responding to reports of a juvenile attempting to steal the construction vehicle, officers from the Ann Arbor Police Department arrived at Forsythe Middle School around 6:45 p.m.
Upon discovering the boy driving without headlights, a pursuit ensued through the Georgetown Boulevard neighborhood.
Multiple officers, with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring, followed the stolen Telehandler at speeds ranging from 15 to 20 mph.
Remarkably, despite the scale and weight of the stolen vehicle, nobody was injured during the pursuit.
In a video shared by the police department, officers can be heard cautioning, “He’s lowering the hooks — don’t go in front of” the forklift, highlighting the potential dangers of the situation.
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Unraveling the Aftermath of a Michigan Boy Joyride
The pursuit was eventually called off around 7:20 p.m. when the child exited the city limits via the M-14 bridge.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office took over the chase until just before 8 p.m., when the young driver finally came to a stop.
The boy, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his status as a minor, was apprehended and taken into custody on Saturday night. Authorities subsequently placed him in a juvenile detention center.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unexpected challenges law enforcement can face, even at the hands of a 12-year-old with a penchant for adventure.
The community and law enforcement alike will undoubtedly reflect on this unusual escapade for some time, pondering the factors that led a child to undertake such a daring and potentially dangerous joyride in a stolen construction vehicle.
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