“Bored” boys take grandfather’s car Sunday night
IMLAY CITY — Two teenage boys led Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputies on a 15-minute, high-speed “joyride” through the streets of Imlay City on Sunday (Nov. 24) night.
Lapeer County Undersheriff Jeremy Howe reported that at around 9:50 p.m., Deputy Dave Barrett was stopped for a light at the corner of M-53 and M-21, when a westbound 2008 Chevy Malibu, traveling at a high rate of speed, nearly clipped his patrol car while making a turn onto southbound Van Dyke.
“The suspect had to brake hard to avoid hitting the patrol car,” said Howe. “The deputy immediately put on his emergency light to initiate a traffic stop — but the suspect’s vehicle began to accelerate on southbound Van Dyke.”
Howe said Barrett continued in pursuit as the suspect vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, turned west on Borland Rd., before turning north onto Almont Ave.
Howe said the deputy slowed down when the suspect vehicle turned east on Third Street, with an Imlay City police officer now in pursuit.
“At that point,” said Howe, “with our deputy now following at a distance — the suspect turned south on M-53 and then left (east) on Newark Rd.”
It was while eastbound on Newark, that the driver misjudged the turn at Bristol Rd. and went into a ditch, striking the street sign at the southeast corner of the intersection.
“As our deputy pulled up, he saw two subjects running into the field,” Howe continued. “He followed them on foot for a distance until they gave up without altercation.”
What he encountered were two local boys, ages 13 and 14 of Imlay City and Capac, respectively, standing hunched over and out of breath in the field.
After notifying their parents, one of the boys told Barrett they had been bored and decided to take one of their grandfather’s cars out for a spin.
Howe said the suspect vehicle’s speeds topped out at 100 mph, while traveling on eastbound Newark.
Undersheriff Howe said the case will be turned over to the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Juvenile Division for appropriate punishment.
He said the boys will have to appear in court, and either they or their parents, will be required to pay the obligatory fines and court costs.
“It was very fortunate that there was not a lot of traffic out on the roads at that time on Sunday,” said Howe.
“Lives were put in serious danger and there could have been a very tragic outcome.”
Tom Wearing started at the Tri-City Times in 1989, covering the Village of Capac as a beat reporter. He later served stints as assistant editor and editor. Today, he covers Imlay City and Almont as a staff writer. He enjoys music and plays drums and sings with various musical groups in the Detroit Metropolitan area.
