Car Safety Feature Helps Officers Catch Driver of Stolen Car

GLENDALE — The safety features that prevent a car from opening its doors while the car is in gear helped a Glendale police officer arrest the driver of a stolen car recently.

Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with fleeing and eluding an officer and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent after reportedly driving a stolen car and crashing into a traffic signal on W. Silver Spring Drive after reaching speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

According to a criminal complaint released Wednesday by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, a Glendale Police Officer saw two vehicles - both reported stolen - pass him at a high rate of speed along N. Silver Spring Drive on April 20.

The offer pursued both vehicles until one of the vehicles, a Pontiac, lost control and spun out, striking the center median traffic signal at North Bethmaur Lane and West Silver Spring Drive, the complaint said.

The officer reports observing the occupants of the Pontiac trying to exit the vehicle but it appeared that because the vehicle was still in gear the doors would not unlock.

The officer was able to take the driver into custody, the complaint said.

According to the criminal complaint, the driver claimed that they did not know the officer was trying to stop them but had no explanation for why they were driving at speeds of roughly 80 m.p.h. The defendant further stated that they did not see the officer in pursuit, but admitted to seeing the officer when he originally passed them earlier on West Silver Spring Drive.