17 Yo in Stolen Dump Truck Damages Squad Cars During Lengthy Chase
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A Stow teen accused of stealing the dump truck and crashing it into police cruisers and motorists remains in juvenile custody.
Additional charges have now been brought against the 17 year-old boy by Akron police, which joined Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Canton police and State Highway Patrol troopers during the pursuit.
The teen, Joshua Jiles, is now accused of 6 counts of felonious assault against a police officer, 3 counts of willful fleeing and vandalism, fleeing and eluding, receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended license.
Jiles made an appearance in Summit County Juvenile Court.
He does not yet have an attorney.
His family has filed an application to have an attorney appointed by the court.
That application is under review.
He remains in the county Juvenile Detention Center.
The teen's 52 mile chase, much of which was captured on police cruiser cameras, has garnered national attention.
The pursuit started in Stow and took police through three counties before a blown-out tire on the stolen dump truck sent the vehicle crashing into a guardrail in Strasburg in Tuscarawas County.
Three police cruisers were hit and civilian vehicles were pushed out of the way as the truck sped from Stow, then headed south on state Route 8 and Interstate 77.
Additional charges could be brought by the other agencies involved in the pursuit.
Stow police said a resident reported the truck missing.
Later, the truck owner's son spotted the vehicle in the area of Fishcreek Road.
Police said the driver intentionally rammed 2 police vehicles and tried to drive over another as officers attempted to stop the truck.
The chase then ensued. Police said the top speed in the pursuit was 74 mph.
Officers were also dodging bricks hurled from its window .
Two other juveniles were in the dump truck and jumped out after the crashes with the Stow police cruisers at Fishcreek and Graham roads. Charges have yet to be announced against the teens.
The suspected driver's stepfather previously told that the teen has been involved with the Summit County juvenile justice system for about three years, mostly on truancy charges.
12-25-2010, 09:39 AM
