By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Newburgh Heights, Ohio — Bodycam shows police capturing an 11-year-old driver with 8- and 12-year-oldpassengers after a pursuit of a stolen car; no injuries reported. Police1
- How it started: A license plate reader flagged the vehicle (stolen out of Parma) on Harvard Ave.; the driver fled, crashed into a house, and all three ran before being detained. Police1
- Tactics used: Kids told officers they learned the theft method on YouTube and used a USB cable to defeat the ignition — a trend linked to certain models. Police1
- Status: Children were released to parents; juvenile charges pending. Police1
NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — An 11-year-old behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle led Newburgh Heights police on a short pursuit Saturday before crashing into a house and attempting to flee on foot with 8- and 12-year-oldpassengers, authorities said. Body-worn camera footage shows officers detaining the children at gunpoint and then securing the scene. No injuries were reported. Police1
Police said the car, reported stolen out of Parma, was first detected by a license plate reader along Harvard Avenue. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver made a sharp turn, lost control and struck the side of a residence. The trio ran but was quickly apprehended in a nearby yard, according to Chief John Majoy. Police1
After being detained, the juveniles told officers they learned how to steal the car on YouTube, using a USB cable to crack the steering column and start the vehicle — a technique seen in a wave of thefts targeting certain makes. Investigators documented the damaged column at the scene. Police1
All three children were released to their parents, and police said charges will be filed in juvenile court. Officials emphasized that, despite the lack of injuries, the incident could have had fatal consequences given the high-risk driving and neighborhood impact. Police1
Additional local outlets reported similar details, including the Harvard/Denison corridor travel path and that the home sustained minor damage. News 5 Cleveland WEWS+1