Deputies: 16-year-old flees, steals and crashes deputy's SUV

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. -- A 16-year-old female who was wanted for removing her ankle monitor was taken into custody after a chase, then escaped and stole a deputy's SUV, crashed the SUV, fled again and was finally taken into custody, according to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.

The teen is facing the following preliminary charges as a juvenile:

• 2 counts of escape
• 2 counts of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle
• 1 count auto theft
• 1 count burglary
• 1 count possession of methamphetamine
• 1 count possession of paraphernalia
• 1 count possession of marijuana
• 1 count theft

Deputies have been searching for the 16-year-old since May 21 when she removed her community corrections ankle monitor. She was listed as a runaway.

Deputies received a tip the girl was at a home on N. Majestic Way, on the south side of Lake Wawasee.

Officers from several agencies responded to the area as police discovered the subject was in possession of narcotics and a firearm, according to reports.

The suspect's vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Fe, was not located at the address. A short time later, dispatch received a call the vehicle was in the area of North Majestic Way.

Syracuse Police saw the Santa Fe at the residence, and the female drove away from the location with police in pursuit, reports said.

The subject drove through several yards, then eastbound on Hatchery Road at a high rate of speed. Unable to negotiate a turn, she crashed the vehicle into three wooden pillars, a NIPSCO pole and telephone junction box, reports said.

Police took the subject into custody and she was handcuffed and placed in a Kosciusko County deputy's patrol vehicle.

While in the vehicle, she got a hand out of the handcuffs, moved to the driver's seat, and fled in the vehicle westbound on Hatchery Road, reports said.

The SUV struck a fence and storage building in the curve at the west end of Hatchery Road, reports said.

Following the crash, the subject got out of the vehicle and entered a nearby home through a window, stole a cell phone, and fled through another window, police said.

Officers apprehended the subject just south of the residence, reports said.

The Turkey Creek Fire Territory responded and evaluated the teen and then released her to deputies. She was then transported to the Thomas N. Frederick Juvenile Justice Center.

After she was taken into custody, police searched her vehicle and found paraphernalia with methamphetamine and marijuana, according to police.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Syracuse and North Webster Police Departments, The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement, Turkey Creek Fire Territory and Kosciusko County Probation.