Stolen Cars Recovered Following High Speed Chases In PW County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Virginia State Police recovered two stolen cars Sunday following pursuits that both ended in Prince William County. According to a VSP report, both drivers of the stolen vehicles were charged on multiple counts and are being held without bond at the Manassas Adult Detention Center.

Just before 3 a.m. Sunday, state police were alerted to a stolen 2019 Toyota Yaris traveling south on Interstate 95. Police located the vehicle near the mile marker 158 in Prince William County, but when the trooper activated his lights to initiate a traffic stop, the Toyota sped away, initiating a chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The fleeing vehicle exited I-95 onto Route 234, according to police, and the driver lost control on Independence Hill, causing the stolen Toyota to run off the right side of the road and overturn several times. Its driver and three passengers fled the scene on foot, police said.

The driver and two passengers were apprehended within minutes. With the assistance of Fairfax County Police Aviation and K9 teams from Fairfax and Prince William counties, the search continued for the third passenger, but the individual was never located.

According to the VSP report, the driver of the stolen Toyota — identified as Kyle X. Hines, 18, of Union, N.J. — with grand larceny, eluding police, hit and run, abduction (for his passengers), attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, driving on the shoulder, reckless driving, and driving without a valid driver's license.

The two male passengers — one an adult and the other a juvenile — were transported to Prince William Hospital Center for treatment of minor injuries. Neither one was charged in relation to the vehicle theft or pursuit.

Later Sunday evening, state police responded to another sighting of a Toyota sedan stolen from Alexandria. The vehicle was traveling south on Interstate 95 near mile marker 168 in Fairfax County, police said, but when a trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle refused to stop and sped away.

The vehicle left I-95 at Dale Boulevard and eventually made its way back onto I-95, heading north. During the course of the chase, the stolen vehicle rammed two state police vehicles involved in the pursuit.

According to the report, troopers were able to force the vehicle to stop at mile marker 158 in Prince William County. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody.

State police charged the driver, Dennis I. Keels, 26, of Oxon Hill, Md., with grand larceny, eluding police, attempted malicious wounding of a police officer, assault on a police officer, speeding, illegal possession of a Schedule IV narcotic, resisting arrest, speeding, driving without a valid driver's license, and for not wearing a seat belt.

One of the male passengers was transported to Sentara Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The other male passenger was not injured. Neither was charged.

No law enforcement officers were injured in either pursuit.