WHITELAND, Ind. — Whiteland police officers arrested a 16-year-old for joyriding Wednesday evening.
Police responded to a report of three speeding cars coming into Whiteland, believed to be going more than 100 mph, around 7 p.m. May 29.
When the drivers got to Whiteland Road, an officer got behind the drivers to try to pull them over. Police said two of the cars pulled into a parking lot, but the driver of the third car continued driving away.
Officers then started a chase, which went north through Greenwood before turning around to go south on U.S. 31 through Franklin, Edinburgh and Taylorsville — and then turned around again to go north on Interstate 65.
According to police, officers used stop sticks on U.S. 31 multiple times to try to end the chase.
Police said at one point, the 16-year-old driver from Indianapolis drove into oncoming traffic in the wrong lane on U.S. 31.
When the driver got on I-65, Johnson County sheriff's deputies assisted with putting stop sticks on the interstate.
That's when the car stopped.
Police said the driver has his learner's permit but not a driver's license.
Police arrested him for fleeing and resisting arrest. He was also issued several tickets for unreasonable speed, disregarding a stop sign and improper passing.
The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decision.
"Young people think it's a joyride and a game, but it's dangerous and could have had much more serious consequences," Whiteland Police Chief Rick Shipp said.
