13-year-old boy arrested after high-speed joyride through East Valley

PHOENIX — A 13-year-old boy was arrested early Monday after he allegedly took his mother’s car on a high-speed joyride through the East Valley, authorities said.

The Gilbert and Mesa police departments collaborated to take the young teen into custody after a chase that reached speeds above 100 mph.

Afterward, the boy said said he took his mother’s black Chevrolet Tahoe for a late-night spin without her knowledge, according to the Gilbert Police Department.

What did 13-year-old boy allegedly do during high-speed joyride?

The chase started around 1:45 a.m. after a Mesa police helicopter spotted the Tahoe driving at over 80 mph near Higley and Elliot roads in Gilbert.

The Mesa air unit coordinated with Gilbert ground units to track the vehicle, but the Tahoe failed to stop for police.

The SUV entered Mesa and was seen running a red light at a high speed before avoiding another attempt to stop it.

The Tahoe allegedly raced along at more than 100 mph with no headlights, ignoring signals and catching air over uneven terrain on major roads and residential streets, police said.

The dangerous driving continued even when no police units were close enough to engage with the vehicle.

Just after 2 a.m., the SUV crossed back into Gilbert and struck a railing at a business near Cooper and Baseline roads.

At this point, a passenger got out and fled on foot without being captured.

The Tahoe eventually stopped about 9 miles away in a neighborhood near Recker and Warner roads. The driver got out and jumped into a backyard before Mesa and Gilbert officers apprehended him.

Nobody was injured during the high-speed joyride.

Police said the 13-year-old driver was booked into Maricopa County’s Durango Juvenile Detention Center on four counts of unlawful flight from law enforcement and one count each of the following charges:

• Reckless driving.
• Excessive speeds.
• Striking fixtures on a highway.
• Unlawful use of means of transportation.
• Permitting life, health or morals of minor to be imperiled by neglect, abuse or immoral associations.
• Child or vulnerable adult abuse.
• Criminal trespass.

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