Minden Police pursue teen driving stolen vehicle out of Grand Island

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) - A Grand Island teen is being referred for criminal charges in Kearney County after he led police in Minden on a high-speed chase.

The Minden Police Department said around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, they received a report of a possible runaway juvenile being at a residence in town. Officers checked it out and didn’t locate anyone at the residence.

Officers learned the teen may be driving a stolen blue Ford F-150 with Hall County plates.

MPD was able to locate the vehicle and when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply and drove away at a high rate of speed throughout Minden, including the cemetery, where there was damage to the sod.

Officers lost sight of the vehicle in south Minden but were able to later locate it driving past the Kearney County Health Services. Officers attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it left Minden eastbound on Highway 74.

As officers caught up to the vehicle, officers observed the pickup attempt to turn north onto 33 Road and go off the road, rolling on its side.

The 14-year-old male was identified as the driver and sole occupant and was confirmed to be a runaway juvenile from Grand Island. The juvenile was taken to the hospital where no injuries were observed.

The Nebraska State Patrol assisted and investigated the vehicle accident while the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Emergency Management assisted with traffic control at the scene.