SAN ANTONIO — There are new developments in a case involving the pursuit of a stolen Mercedes that stretched from west to north San Antonio early Saturday morning.
A 14-year-old boy made his first appearance in juvenile court to answer to a charge of evading arrest.
San Antonio Police said the incident started in the 1800 block of South General McMullen when officers involved in an interdiction effort to stop a street takeover incident spotted what they thought was a robbery in progress.
Officers said they saw a man in a ski mask go into a business and then leave in a rush.
They called for air support and said the SAPD helicopter followed the stolen vehicle until it crashed on West Ramsey Road shortly after midnight.
Officers said four males jumped out of the car and ran, but with the help of K9s and Department of Public Safety troopers, they were all apprehended after a short foot chase.
Police said three weapons were recovered at the scene, including one stolen firearm.
Two of the arrested were charged as adults and two are juveniles.
Juvenile Judge William Cruz Shaw ordered one of the teens detained for at least ten days, ruling he was a danger to the community and was not allowing himself to be properly supervised.
Court personnel told the judge it was the teen's second appearance on a serious charge.
They said he was in court to answer to a robbery charge back on December 15.
Saying the teen had been a runaway for the last three weeks, a prosecutor called the boy an absolute danger to the community, saying "This stems from a potential robbery where detectives observed someone with a handgun jump in a Mercedes where this respondent was a passenger."
The judge heard that the Mercedes was involved in a high speed chase over a long distance before the driver lost control and crashed.
"During that incident there was also a gun thrown out the window, so that shows that he is a danger to himself and the community and with a runaway history he is likely to abscond," the prosecutor added.
The boy's attorney asked the judge to release the teen to his family on a monitor but his mother told the judge she would like to have more help managing the teen.
The mother said, "I do think if he was to come home today, he might leave," adding that she hoped he would be detained so that he could have access to counseling.
Addressing the teen directly, Shaw asked if he thought his behavior was a good idea. The boy replied "No sir."
Juveniles charged with crimes are not eligible for bail. The teen's next court appearance is scheduled for January 23, when the judge may rule to keep him in custody or release him.
Information on the other juvenile has not been made available.
In their initial release Saturday, police said the two arrested adults could be facing charges of evading arrest with a vehicle, theft of the vehicle, unlawfully carrying a weapon and theft of a firearm.
Their names, charges and bonds have not yet been confirmed by police.
Police say a new state law relating to street takeover attempts that just took effect should help them put the brakes on this kind of crime.