Makham, IL - 13 Yr. Old Female Handcuffed Runaway Steals Police Van To Escape - Troopers Boxed In - Arrested

Shackled Teen Steals Illinois Police Van
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008
Updated: July 18th, 2008 03:58 PM PDT
Story by nbc5.com

MARKHAM, Ill. --

A 13-year-old runaway was ordered held in juvenile court Friday morning after she somehow -- while shackled and handcuffed -- stole a van that was taking her to the police station Thursday afternoon near south suburban Chicago Heights.

The incident began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday when the Lynwood girl, who had gone to southern Indiana with her boyfriend, was being taken back to Lynwood after the boyfriend was arrested, possibly because of his age in connection with their relationship, according to Lynwood Police Sgt. Greg Szymanski.

"They got caught down there,'' according to the sergeant, who did not know what the boyfriend was charged with.

The girl was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.

The girl was inside a prisoner transport van returning her from Parke County, Ind., to Lynwood when the driver got lost. He pulled over near U.S. 30 and Torrence Avenue in an unincorporated area near Chicago Heights and went inside to call for directions.

While alone in the van, the restrained girl was able to get into the driver's seat and take off in the van, the sergeant said.

"She was shackled and handcuffed, and somehow got in the front seat and took the van,'' Szymanski said.

The girl made it all the way to West 84th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway with Lynwood and Illinois State police in pursuit when she "got boxed in'' and was arrested, he said.

She was apparently taken into custody by Illinois State Police and taken to the Sauk Village Police Department, where troopers hold prisoners in a lockup.


At a juvenile hearing Friday morning in Markham, Judge Michael Stuttley ordered the girl held, according to Conklin, who said the girl, not identified because of her age, was scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 5.
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