Scott D. Benton, Chief of Police
20 Essex St
Whitman, MA 02382
For Immediate Release
Monday, Dec. 4, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Whitman Police Arrest Two Juveniles Driving Stolen Cars
WHITMAN — Police Chief Scott D. Benton reports that the Whitman Police Department arrested two juveniles early Monday morning after they were allegedly each driving stolen vehicles that had been taken from a Brockton auto dealership.
A 15-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE and a 16-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE, BOTH MALES FROM BROCKTON, were arrested following a pursuit.
The 15-YEAR-OLD was charged with:
- Failure to stop for police
- Receiving a stolen motor vehicle
- Receiving stolen property over $250
- Speeding in violation of a special regulation
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
- Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
The 16-YEAR-OLD was charged with:
- Failure to stop for police
- Receiving a stolen motor vehicle
- Receiving stolen property over $250
- Leaving the scene of property damage
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
- Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
Around 3:12 a.m., a Whitman Police officer on patrol saw a 2011 white Dodge Charger and 2011 black BMW SE driving down Washington Street. Both vehicles appeared to be damaged and had bright yellow dealership stickers on the windshields. Neither vehicle had license plates.
When the officer attempted to pull the vehicles over, the drivers fled at a high rate of speed in different directions.
The pursuing officer followed the Dodge Charger into East Bridgewater and eventually into West Bridgewater. Along the way, the driver struck a stop sign, multiple fences and a fire hydrant. The 15-YEAR-OLD, who was operating the Dodge, crashed into a hydrant near 175 East St. in West Bridgewater and then fled on foot into a backyard.
He was later apprehended with the help of West Bridgewater Police and the State Police K-9 unit.
Inside the Dodge Charger, police recovered several sets of keys belonging to other vehicles from a dealership.
Whitman Police also responded to a report of damage to a parked pickup truck on Temple Street. The truck was believed to have been struck by one of the stolen vehicles prior to the pursuit.
While investigating on Temple Street a Whitman officer noticed a teen, later identified as the 16-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE, walking down the road. The teen flagged the officer down and asked for a ride to Brockton, saying he was cold.
The officer said he would give him a ride, but he needed to make sure the juvenile did not have any weapons or drugs on him. In searching the teen’s pockets, a knife was found, along with three sets of car keys, including the keys to a 2011 BMW.
The BMW was soon recovered near a fast food restaurant in Whitman. The keys found on the 16-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT matched the vehicle.
The vehicles and keys that were recovered were determined to have been stolen from Avon Auto Brokers in Brockton.
Because the suspects in the this case are juveniles, their names cannot be released. They will appear in Brockton Juvenile Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
###