(PEORIA, IL) Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at approximately 5:52 p.m. Peoria Police received multiple calls about reckless drivers throughout the city.
Officers located an unreported stolen vehicle unoccupied at Spring and Jefferson.
Shortly afterward, police observed two previously reported stolen vehicles following each other at a high rate of speed with occupants hanging out of the windows of the stolen vehicles along Sheridan and War Memorial.
Officers attempted multiple times to stop the vehicles but had negative results.
While following the vehicles police observed the suspects from the first stolen vehicle crashed into another vehicle at War Memorial and Knoxville. The suspects then fled from that vehicle and entered the second stolen vehicle and fled the scene. The victims of the vehicle that was struck suffered minor injuries.
Officers also observed the suspects make an unsuccessful turn from Flora to Archer where the vehicle came to a complete stop. All of the suspects exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
Officers from all divisions of the Police Department were able to apprehend 8 of the fleeing suspects who were all found to be juveniles.
Officers also recovered two firearms.
A total of three stolen vehicles were recovered during this incident.
Arrested:
1. 14-year-old female was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting/Obstructing, and transported to JDC.
2. 17-year-old male was arrested for Criminal Trespass to a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Aggravated UUW and transported to JDC.
3. 16-year-old female was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Resisting/Obstructing and released to the custody of her mother.
4. 17-year-old female was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting Obstructing, and a Peoria County Warrant.
5. 16-year-old male was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting/Obstructing, and Aggravated UUW and transported to JDC.
6. 15-year-old male was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Resisting/Obstructing and transported to JDC.
7. 16-year-old male was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting/Obstructing, and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, and transported to JDC.
8. 15-year-old female was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting/Obstructing, Obstructing Identification, and on 4 separate Retail Theft cases and was transported to JDC.
A number of these individuals have a significant history of previous arrests.
If you have any information regarding any violent crimes, please contact the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, tip411 (anonymously), or Crime Stoppers (anonymously) at (309) 673-9000.
**All suspects and arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. **