Teen arrested after fleeing from Mesa police in Corvette, leading to freeway chase
A 17-year-old was arrested early Saturday morning after he fled from Mesa police in a red Corvette and led them on a freeway pursuit that ended in Phoenix, authorities said.
The pursuit began when Mesa police officers responded to the area of Country Club Drive and Broadway Road on Friday night in response to several cars that were doing doughnuts in the street, police said.
The cars, including a red 2010 Corvette, fled in different directions upon the officers' arrival. One officer tried to stop the Corvette, but the teenage driver did not comply and sped off in a different direction, according to police.
Officers made several attempts to have the Corvette pull over. During that time, the Corvette sideswiped a Mesa police vehicle while evading the attempted stop, police said.
The Mesa police air unit then followed the Corvette with a helicopter as it drove onto the freeway and headed toward Phoenix, according to Richard Encinas, a spokesperson for the Mesa Police Department. Encinas said patrol units on the ground were able to safely back away and stay out of sight.
The Phoenix Police Department assisted in the pursuit by tracking the car with a helicopter when it entered the city, police said. The Arizona Department of Public Safety attempted to lay down spike strips to disable the vehicle in Phoenix, though it is unknown if the spikes were successful.
Soon after, the Corvette lost two of its tires and the teenage driver got out and ran into a house near 40th Avenue and Grant Street in Phoenix, according to Encinas.
Officers arrived at the house and successfully took the 17-year-old into custody.
It was later discovered the house belonged to a friend of the teenager and no one there was involved in the incident.
A handgun was found in the Corvette during a search of the vehicle, police said. The 17-year-old later admitted to driving the Corvette and knowing the weapon was in the car, according to police.
The teenager was arrested and booked into a detention facility on several charges, including endangerment, excessive speed, possession of a firearm by a minor and unlawful flight from law enforcement.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Teen flees in Corvette; Mesa police give chase
