A driver of a stolen vehicle is facing charges including felony assault after causing a crash in the Northwest District Neighborhood.
On Friday, November 22, 2024 at 10:04 a.m., a Public Safety Support Specialist assigned to Central Precinct responded to a report of a stolen vehicle to be recovered in the area of Northwest Marshall Street and Northwest 13th Avenue. The PS3 located the vehicle, a 2025 BMW X6, and saw people inside. He requested assistance from officers, who responded.
As the first officer was arriving in the area, the driver immediately drove off at a high, reckless speed. The officer briefly activated his emergency lights, but it was clear the driver would not yield and was eluding, so the officer quickly deactivated his lights in an effort to encourage the driver to slow down.
The driver continued recklessly driving, causing a minor, non-injury crash at Northwest 16th and Northrup. The driver illegally left the scene of that crash, sped to the south, and caused a serious injury crash with two Toyota Prius sedans at Northwest 17th Avenue and Northwest Lovejoy Street. One of the Toyotas was struck so hard it rolled onto its side. After the crash, a PPB officer pulled his vehicle up to pin the stolen car in case the reckless driver tried to drive off again.
The driver of the stolen BMW then ran on foot, but by then numerous officers were coming into the area and they were able to surround and arrest him. A female passenger in the BMW was also detained. The drivers of the Toyotas were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. An additional parked, unoccupied car was damaged in the crash.