GIFFORD — A 12-year-old boy who officials said led deputies on a chase in a van reported stolen out of Cocoa, was detained Tuesday.
The pre-teen told deputies he fled because he did not have a driver’s license. The juvenile said he did not know who owned the van, but knew it was stolen, reports show.
The Gifford youth was charged with fleeing an officer in a marked patrol vehicle and grand theft auto. The juvenile was taken to the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce.
An Indian River County deputy was on patrol about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 4400 block of 28th Avenue when he spotted the dark gray, stolen van. The van’s driver, however, failed to slow down at two stop signs, reports show.
The deputy activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle continued, passing two pedestrians before traveling into an open field.
The driver got out of the vehicle – as it was still moving – then ran south, deputies said. The van struck a vacant vehicle in the field, reports show.
A sheriff’s helicopter was called in to help deputies track the driver in a backyard on 26th Avenue. Deputies arrested the pre-teen.
Law enforcement learned the Cocoa Police Department reported the vehicle stolen, but it was unclear when.
Deputies noted the boy has a previous arrest for grand theft of an automobile. The youth was not offered the juvenile diversion program, reports show.