Teenagers accused of leading chase in stolen vehicle

PERU, Ind. – Three South Bend teenagers were arrested on Monday after allegedly leading police on a chase in a stolen vehicle, Indiana State Police announced.

At 6 p.m., an off-duty trooper reported seeing a Jeep Cherokee traveling north on U.S. 31, near Miami County Road 1400 South, at approximately 115 miles per hour in a 60 miles per hour zone, according to reports.

The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the Cherokee near C.R. 500 South.

The driver of the Cherokee, later identified as a 15-year-old boy, allegedly didn’t stop and led the trooper on a chase, according to police.

The pursuit ended when the Cherokee crashed into a ditch on U.S. 31 near Eel River Road.

After the crash, a 16-year-old girl and 19-year-old Tavonta Lawrence ran from the Cherokee.

The 16-year-old was captured immediately and a police dog tracked Lawrence’s location in a nearby wood line.

Lawrence was taken to the Miami County Jail on a charge of resisting law enforcement.

The 16-year-old was taken to the South Bend Juvenile Detention Center on a charge of resisting law enforcement.

The 15-year-old was also taken to the South Bend Juvenile Detention Center on the following charges:

• Auto theft
• Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle
• Possession of stolen property
• Reckless driving
• Aggressive driving
• Operating a vehicle without ever having received a driver’s license

No one was injured in the crash.

The investigation revealed the Cherokee had been reported stolen from Mishawaka.