Armed 14-year-old on Wis. crime spree captured in Twin Cities

An armed 14-year-old is in custody Tuesday morning in the Twin Cities after he stole two vehicles in western Wisconsin, attempted a residential burglary and fled authorities twice at high speeds.

The teen was taken into custody in the northeast metro, Polk County (Wis.) Sheriff Pete Johnson said shortly before 7:30 a.m. "As far as I know, he is OK," Johnson added.

Officers caught up to the boy once he rolled over in a pickup truck at Hwy. 97 and Fenway Avenue in Forest Lake and after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through parts of the northeast metro, according to authorities and a witness.

The chase began about 7 a.m. on Lake Drive in Lino Lakes. The teen then drove north on Interstate 35W and exited onto Hwy. 97 in Forest Lake. At times, speeds reached 100 miles per hour, according to dispatch scanner reports.

The trouble for the teen began Monday afternoon, when he had his "first contact" with police in Eau Claire County, according to authorities in St. Croix and neighboring Polk counties. Details of that contact have not been revealed.

According to authorities:

Later in the afternoon, the teen stole a vehicle and attempted to burglarize a home near Woodville while brandishing a gun. He fled the home just before officers arrived.

Law enforcement spotted him driving in New Richmond, setting off the chase. He abandoned the vehicle near Star Prairie and fled on foot for several miles before stealing a second vehicle.

Again, he abandoned the vehicle and was on the run. Shortly before dawn, the search involving several agencies was concentrated near Cedar Lake, on the border of St. Croix and Polk counties.

Authorities have yet to say how he acquired the pickup that he rolled over in Forest Lake.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482