Five teenagers were arrested early Friday after eluding police in a lengthy pursuit of a stolen vehicle that started in northeast Vancouver, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the sheriff’s office was advised that a stolen 2017 Hyundai Elantra was being followed by its owner on Northeast 117th Avenue in the Orchards area.
At one point during the pursuit, the owner of the Elantra reported that the driver of the stolen car had pointed a gun at him, leading the owner to suspend his pursuit.
Over the next 30 hours, the Hyundai was spotted multiple times by law enforcement, but it eluded officers each time.
Early Friday morning, the Hyundai was again spotted near Northeast 49th Street and 112th Avenue. A deputy attempted a traffic stop as the Hyundai turned south on Northeast 121st Avenue from Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard, but the Hyundai accelerated away.
The Hyundai continued south on Northeast 121st Avenue. Deputies deployed spike strips on Northeast 122nd Avenue just north of Northeast 49th Street.
The Hyundai drove through the spikes and continued to travel on multiple flat tires. Tire remnants and vehicle parts were spread along Northeast 49th Street, Northeast 151st Avenue and Northeast 39th Street.
Vancouver police spotted the vehicle at Northeast 162nd Avenue and Northeast 39th Street and followed it until it came to rest in the front yard of a residence on the 1000 block of Northeast 164th Avenue. Five teenagers in the car were detained without incident, and all were taken to the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.
Clark County deputies arrested the 16-year-old driver, who is facing possession of a stolen motor vehicle, attempt to elude police and reckless driving allegations. The four passengers — ages 17, 14, 14 and 13 — all face a second-degree charge of taking a motor vehicle without permission. The 13-year-old and one of the 14-year-olds had previously been reported as juvenile runaways.
