Stolen SUV chase with baby inside ends in crash, teen suspect arrest

Police chase video of stolen SUV with child inside

St. Clair County Sheriff Deputies released dashcam video of a stolen SUV with a 1-year-old inside.

FOX 2 - A 16-year-old was arrested after stealing an SUV with a sleeping baby inside after a crash in Chesterfield Thursday.

The backstory:

Newly released police video shows the pursuit which reached speeds over 100 miles an hour before crashing into parked cars off 21 Mile Road near Sugarbush Road.

The 18-month-old was found unharmed inside the backseat of the Chevrolet Equinox by emergency medical first responders.

Police say the vehicle theft took place near Pine Grove Avenue and Hancock Street in Port Huron.

The car stolen from the child’s mother at a gas station.

"We believe that the intent was to steal the car, the child being inside was not part of the plan," said St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King. "There was a mistake made, she left the car unlocked and running with the child inside. And we advise against that for sure, but it was a human mistake that was made."

A Marysville police officer spotted the stolen SUV on I-94 near Gratiot and attempted to stop it.

The teen allegedly then fled by speeding off, turning things into a high-speed pursuit.

Law enforcement then had the painstaking task of not losing sight of the vehicle but giving the driver space so he wouldn’t do anything that would endanger the life of the baby riding in the backseat.

St, Clair County Sheriff Deputies joined the chase at I-94 westbound south of County Line Road.

16-year-old arrested for stealing SUV with baby inside, leading police on chase

A 15-month-old baby was recovered safe after the vehicle they were inside was stolen by a 16-year-old police say.

"The pursuit, went on and off the freeway several times the driver was unknown (to us) but knew the child was inside essentially kidnapped," King said.

In newly released video, the suspect in the Equinox can be seen exiting on to 23 Mile Road and quickly got back on the freeway.

The chase ends with a crash as the SUV hits parked cars outside the Sugarbush Tavern.

The restaurant owner was relieved the crash happened away from the outdoor patio.

"There was 50 people in the backyard here and so thank goodness you know, nothing went that way (or) came over here where there was nobody in the parking lot at the time," said Brennan Richter, the owner. "One great thing I definitely saw was the police officer got right into the car, grabbed the baby that was in the car, and immediately came across the safe zone out here."

Investigators say this is the sixth time the teen has stolen a car. He is not being identified at this time pending his arraignment on charges.

The suspect is being lodged at the Macomb Juvenile Detention Facility.

"Great work by deputies, officers and Central Dispatch," said Sheriff Mat King. "When a child is involved, situations are certainly more heightened and we are all grateful the child was unharmed in this instance."