Armed teen led deputies on extensive pursuits, area searches in Vilas Co. before arrest on Sunday

VILAS COUNTY, Wis. (WSAW) - After an extensive search, authorities in Vilas County have arrested a 15-year-old boy who is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase, breaking into a home, and stealing a UTV and guns.

On Saturday night, the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office notified the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office that the suspect had fled a traffic stop north of the city of Antigo. The suspect was reported to have been in a vehicle stolen from the Menominee Indian Reservation and was headed north on Hwy 45 towards Hwy 8. The vehicle was described as a black, 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Oneida County deputies spotted the vehicle headed west on Hwy 8. When they tried to stop the vehicle, the suspect sped up and led deputies on a high-speed chase on Hwy 8 and then on north on Hwy 17. At one point, the suspect’s vehicle reached 130 mph. Eagle River police attempted to stop the vehicle using a tire deflation device, but the suspect avoided it. The suspect then headed west on Hwy 70.

As the suspect neared Sunset Lane, he began to slow down and an Oneida County deputy was able to perform a pursuit intervention technique and stop the vehicle. The suspect then ran from police into a wooded area.

At 9:48 p.m., a Vilas County Deputy tried to stop a UTV on STH 70. The deputy was on the perimeter of the search zone when he tried to stop the UTV and a pursuit began. The UTV ended up crashing into the shoreline of a lake. During the pursuit, the UTV crashed into two marked Vilas County squad cars causing minimal damage to the squads. When the deputies chased the suspect, they saw a bag full of firearms and a bag full of ammunition lying next to the UTV. There was also an empty handgun holster.

According to a previous Facebook post from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect broke into a home and stole a UTV and guns. During the search, the suspect shot multiple rounds at a drone that located the suspect around 10:45 p.m.

On Sunday at 7 a.m., the home burglary was discovered by a Vilas County Deputy canvassing the search area who discovered that the UTV in the pursuit did come from that home. The owners of the cabin established that the teen stole two 9mm pistols and a .223 cal AR15. The rest of the weapons that he had stolen from the house were recovered at the UTV crash scene.

Deputies immediately responded to the cabin and located the teen inside. A loaded 9mm handgun was found on the teen and another 9 mm handgun was located on a coffee table next to his head. A .223 cal rifle was located directly under where he was sleeping. The individual did not resist arrest.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to the hospital for medical clearance and custody was transferred to Vilas County Juvenile Intake. Forest County eventually took custody of him.

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