2 teens steal deliverer's car, arrested

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Two teenagers are in police custody, accused of stealing a delivery driver's vehicle and then trying to hide from officers.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded around 9 p.m. Sunday to a report of stolen vehicle in the 800 block of W. Kalamazoo Avenue.

A delivery driver from Hunan Gardens restaurant told officers that he had left his vehicle's engine on in the road while making a delivery.

When the driver returned to his vehicle, he noticed the sliver-colored 2002 Honda CRV had been stolen, according to a news release.

About three hours later, Public Safety Officer Kenton Nielsen spotted the vehicle, occupied by two males, traveling east in the 800 block of W. Paterson Street.

Police tried to stop the vehicle but the suspect driver did not obey the officers' commands.

After a short pursuit, the suspect driver and passenger pulled over in the 1700 block of Princeton Street, got out of the victim's vehicle and ran away.

Officers set up a perimeter as K-9 units arrived at the scene and noticed two separate trails from the suspects.

Officer Steven Heyduck and his dog, Ike, tracked the suspect passenger to the 1700 block of N. Westnedge Avenue where this suspect was found hiding underneath a deck.

Officer Marc Rifenberg and his dog, Titan, tracked the suspect driver through several yards to a residence in the 1600 block of Princeton Avenue where he was found hiding inside the home.

The driver, a 16-year-old Kalamazoo Township resident, was taken to the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home on charges of fleeing and eluding police, possession of a stolen automobile, resisting and obstructing arrest, and driving without a license.

The passenger, a 17-year-old Osthemo Township resident, was arrested and taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail on charges of resisting and obstructing arrest, and an outstanding warrant.

The case has been given to the Kalamazoo Country Prosecutor's Office for review.

Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to call police at 269.337.8994 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.