Stolen car crashes in Athens in police pursuit; juvenile arrested with gun and rifle clips recovered

By Joe Johnson

A 16-year-old Athens boy reportedly was arrested early Wednesday after a stolen car he was in crashed during a police pursuit.

The driver and a second passenger ran from the wrecked car and were not arrested or identified, according to Athens-Clarke County police Lt. Shaun Barnett.

He said the arrested teen was wearing an ankle monitor at the time.

A handgun, rifle clips and rifle ammo were recovered from the car, said Barnett, ACCPD's public information officer.

The incident began when a deputy saw the stolen 2015 Chevrolet Cruze being driven in Oconee County, but when a traffic stop was attempted the car sped into Athens, where it subsequently crashed in the area of Prince and Hawthorne avenues, Barnett said.

The car had been reported to be stolen from the 100 block of Foreman Drive off of Whitehall Road in southeast Athens, the officer said.

The arrested teen was charged with obstruction of law enforcement, Barnett said, and at the direction of the Department of Juvenile Justice was released to a guardian.

Barnett said he was unable to immediately confirm an unofficial report that the stolen car's driver and second passenger were also juveniles.