Four teens captured after stolen-car chase

Rochester police detained four teenage boys early Saturday after officers found them with a stolen car and chased them on foot downtown. (patch.com) The case began shortly after 12:30 a.m. on April 18, when officers were called to the 1000 block of 41st Street Northwest for a report that a group was trying to steal a vehicle. Police said officers found one vehicle had been stolen and other vehicles in the area had been tampered with or rifled through. (krocnews.com) About three hours later, officers spotted the vehicle described by witnesses in a downtown Rochester alley. Four people ran from the car, and police detained all four juveniles after a foot chase. (yahoo.com) Police said the stolen vehicle was recovered and no serious injuries were reported in the incident. Rochester police were still investigating this week, and the boys were being considered for charges tied to possession of stolen property. (patch.com) Two of the boys were taken to the East Central Regional Juvenile Detention Center, while two others were released to their parents. That split shows how juvenile cases can move on separate tracks even when arrests happen in the same incident. (bringmethenews.com) The arrests came out of a vehicle-theft investigation, not a random traffic stop. Rochester police said witnesses first reported attempted theft activity at an apartment complex before officers began looking for the stolen car. (krocnews.com) Rochester publishes daily incident reports and says its police bulletins include notable incidents and arrests provided to news media. The department is Minnesota’s third-largest police department, with 150 sworn officers and 66 support staff, according to the city. (rochestermn.gov, rochestermn.gov) The April 19 city press log shows Rochester officers handling routine calls from traffic stops to assaults and medical calls within hours of the teen arrests. The stolen-car case stood out because it involved multiple juveniles, a recovered vehicle and a downtown foot pursuit before sunrise. (rochestermn.gov, patch.com) For now, the case ends where it began: with a stolen car recovered, four teens in custody or released to family, and investigators deciding what charges to pursue next. (bringmethenews.com)