Sheriff’s Office Stops Boy After Dramatic Journey Over Snoqualmie Pass
A 12-year-old boy led authorities on a dramatic pursuit after allegedly stealing his grandfather’s car and driving approximately 160 miles across Washington state’s Cascade mountain range. The incident unfolded the day before Thanksgiving when the boy was apprehended by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The Issaquah Police Department, near Seattle, initially alerted the Grant County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday that the boy had taken his grandfather’s Volkswagen hatchback. Officials suspected he was headed to Moses Lake, a small city in Grant County where he had connections, according to Kyle Foreman, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
“For a 12-year-old to take a vehicle and take it that far, we’re happy we were able to stop him before he hurt himself or hurt somebody else,” Foreman told USA TODAY.
A dangerous mountainous journey
To make the journey, the boy would have driven over Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90, a challenging route with an elevation of 3,000 feet. Weather conditions on the pass were near freezing with accumulated snow, adding to the danger of the 2.5-hour trip. Traffic was also heavier than usual due to the holiday travel rush.
Sheriff’s deputies located the stolen vehicle just after 10 a.m. in a residential area near the former Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake. The boy attempted to flee, leading authorities on a brief pursuit through curved streets.
When the chase reached the flatter, open terrain near Randolph Road and State Route 17, deputies performed a PIT maneuver—forcing the Volkswagen to spin sideways and come to a stop.
Legal consequences await
The boy was taken into custody and booked at the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center. He faces charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and felony eluding, according to a statement posted on the Grant County Sheriff’s Office’s social media.
Authorities expressed relief that the incident ended without injuries. The case has sparked concern about the circumstances that led a young boy to undertake such a risky and unauthorized journey.
