Peoria police chase yields arrest of 8 teens, recovery of 3 stolen cars and 2 guns

Chris Sims, Journal Star
·3 min read
18

PEORIA — Multiple calls about reckless drivers early Wednesday evening had Peoria police searching for several suspects throughout the city, according to a police report.

Peoria police began searching for suspects after multiple calls rolled in around 5:52 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, the release said.

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An unreported stolen vehicle was located by police at Jefferson Avenue and Spring Street, just before two previously reported stolen vehicles raced past police. Police pursued the two vehicles as the two cars followed each other at high rates of speed, with occupants seen hanging out of car windows as the chase ensued along Sheridan Road and War Memorial Drive.

Multiple attempts to stop the vehicles fell short until the first stolen vehicle slammed into another car near War Memorial Drive and Knoxville Avenue. That's when the suspects jumped out of the first vehicle and piled into the second stolen car before fleeing.

Victims of the crash suffered minor injuries.

Shortly after, police observed the second stolen vehicle fail to make a turn from Flora Avenue onto Archer Avenue, where all occupants fled the scene on foot once the car came to a complete stop.

Officers from all divisions of the Peoria Police Department were able to track down eight fleeing juvenile suspects from the scene.

In the end, officers recovered three stolen vehicles and two guns.

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Here's a look what the eight juveniles were arrested for during the investigation:

  1. 14-year-old female: possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing; transported to the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

  2. 15-year-old female: possession of a stolen motor vehicle, obstructing identification, resisting/obstructing and listed on 4 individual retail theft cases; transported to Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

  3. 15-year-old male: possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing; transported to Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

  4. 16-year-old female: possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing; released to mother's custody.

  5. 16-year-old male: possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing and unlawful use of a weapon (UUW); transported to Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

  6. 16-year-old male: was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing; transported to Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

  7. 17-year-old female: possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting/obstructing; and a Peoria County Warrant.

  8. 17-year-old male: criminal trespass to a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and aggravated UUW; transported to Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

According to police, several of the above individuals have a significant previous arrest history.

If you have any information about this case or any other violent crimes, please call the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, or call anonymously at Tip411 or Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois car thefts: 8 teens arrested after chase, cars, guns recovered