4 Teens Arrested In Stolen Van After Police Pursuit

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Four teenagers were taken into custody early Thursday morning in a stolen van after a police pursuit, authorities said. The driver of the stolen van is a 15-year-old girl.

The driver was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding a police officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. The teens are not being identified because of their ages.

Two of the passengers, both 16-year-old girls, are being charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. Another passenger, a 16-year-old boy, is being charged with violation of probation.

Shortly before 3 a.m., an officer noticed a Toyota van in the Riviera Bay area (83rd Avenue and 8th Street) driving without headlights on. He lost sight of the van and called extra units because he suspected the passengers may be committing vehicle burglaries, police said.

Multiple officers responded and an officer tried to make a traffic stop, but the van fled. The officer didn't pursue the vehicle. The van turned into a church parking lot at 77th Avenue North and 16th Street. An officer turned into the parking lot and watched the vehicle drive over several parking stops and into a field before it turned around and drove directly at his cruiser, coming within several feet of striking him.

Police started pursuing the vehicle until the van stopped after turning down a cul-de-sac in the area of 94th Avenue North and 1st Street. The teens were then taken into custody.

There were no injuries or vehicle damage as a result of the police pursuit.

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