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A teenage boy is in custody after a series of vehicle thefts were reported on Tuesday night in Fort Dodge, according to a release from the Fort Dodge Police Department.
Police made the arrest shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday after an officer observed a Chevrolet Trailblazer that had been reported stolen earlier in the evening. The officer attempted a traffic stop in the 300 block of Haskell Street, but the driver of the vehicle initially refused to stop. The vehicle did pull over shortly after in the 500 block of North Third Street, where three individuals fled from the vehicle.
The driver, a 14-year-old boy, was apprehended and taken into custody on charges of operating without owner's consent, an aggravated misdemeanor; eluding, a serious misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor.
The individual, who was not named by police, was transported to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora to await proceedings in the juvenile court system.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer had been reported stolen at about 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of North 14th Street.
At 10:20 p.m., a Pontiac Grand Prix was reported stolen in the 10 block of North 18th Street.
Both vehicles were left running while unoccupied, FDPD said.
The Grand Prix was recovered around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of Third Avenue North.
A third vehicle was found unoccupied and in a ditch near Nelson Avenue and 170th Street around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Police investigation found that it had been stolen overnight after it was left running near a residence in the 900 block of South 21st Street.
The press release from FDPD said it is unclear if the third vehicle is related to the other two thefts, but "we feel it is a strong possibility."
The Fort Dodge Police Department continues to investigate the three incidents and is working on identifying the other two individuals who fled from the traffic stop.
"This is an unfortunate reminder to ensure vehicles are secured appropriately during cold weather," police said in the news release.
Until a few years ago, it was against the law to leave a running car unattended. The law was removed from the Iowa Code in 2017.