Police: Teens stole car

SANDUSKY — Two Sandusky teens are facing charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle on Saturday and leading officers on a pursuit. Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, officers were called to the 2000 block of Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) for the report of a stolen vehicle. A man told officers that at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, he left his 2023 Cadillac at a business and walked to a nearby residence. He left the vehicle unlocked with the key inside, according to a Sandusky police report. When he returned, just before calling the police, he discovered his vehicle missing. Officers took a report and entered the vehicle as stolen in a police database. Less than 30 minutes after the first call, the man called dispatch again and said he found his vehicle at a nearby apartment complex, the report states. When he approached the vehicle, one of the occupants reportedly chased him off. As the man was speaking with officers the second time, the vehicle drove past. The victim pointed this out, and officers pursued the vehicle. When attempting to effect a traffic stop, the vehicle began to accelerate, and then, at one point, stopped and the front seat passenger exited the vehicle and ran. The vehicle then began fleeing again and eventually reached Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) via East Shoreway Drive. The Cadillac was driven westbound, where it nearly clipped an eastbound police cruiser before continuing. The Cadillac reached speeds in excess of 80 mph, the report states. The speed limit in that area is 35 mph. Due to high speeds and other vehicles on the road, a police supervisor advised officers to terminate the pursuit. The vehicle was later located unoccupied in the 200 block of Finch St. Officers were able to determine that a phone was connected to the car via Bluetooth. Accessing the Cadillac's media center, they found a phone call made to a contact listed as "Mom." When officers ran the phone number through a database, they discovered the woman's name, which then led to her son, who was allegedly the boy who jumped out of the car. Officers were then able to work out who was driving the vehicle. The driver was charged with motor vehicle theft, a fourth-degree felony; failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; no operator's license, juvenile traffic offender and a curfew violation. The passenger was charged with receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony and misdemeanor obstructing official business, as well as a curfew violation. Both were transported to the Erie County Juvenile Justice Center and left in the care of staff.