Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Bessemer — Three youths face charges after stealing a pickup truck in Ashland and leading law enforcement on a high speed chase that ended in Marenisco on Saturday morning.
A 14-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, allegedly stole a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado from a private owner in the city of Ashland Wisconsin at about 7:40 a.m., according to a news release from Ashland Police Department on Tuesday. The vehicle was reportedly unlocked with the keys left inside at the time of the theft.
Ashland police and a deputy from Iron County Sheriff’s Department searched for the truck. At about 8:15 a.m., the vehicle was reported to be traveling east on U.S. 2 near Hurley.
Members of the Iron County Sheriff’s Department and the Hurley Police Department began pursuing the truck and as it entered Ironwood the pursuit continued with the Michigan State Police, three deputies from the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department, and an officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
According to the GCSD, the pickup reached speeds of 112 mph during the chase. The truck went through towns at over 90 mph.
According to Sgt James Revoyr of the MSP Wakefield Post, the pickup owner subscribed to OnStar Corporation, a General Motors in-vehicle navigation and communications system that can also be used to turn a vehicle off remotely.
“That actually stopped the vehicle on U.S. 2 near Stagecoach Road in Marenisco Township,” Revoyr said.
According to GCSD, the pickup was stopped at around 8:55 a.m. One occupant was detained immediately while the other two fled the scene on foot and were eventually taken into custody about four hours later.
There were no injuries or reports of property damage related to the chase, according to GCSD.
According to the Ashland Police Department report, two of the youths were held in secure juvenile detention while the third was released to a parent. The suspects names are being withheld as they have not been formally charged and are juveniles.
All three youths were referred to the Wisconsin Department of Human and Social Services for charges of operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent. The girl is also charged with theft, and the two boys have an additional charge of theft, party to a crime.
The three were also found in possession of additional property that was reported stolen, the report said.
Ashland Police Chief Jim Gregoire said that at this time it is not known if the three youths will face additional charges in Michigan. Historically, the collection agent usually defers back to the originating agency, he said.
