Some criminals, especially teenagers, make silly mistakes when they try to flee from the cops. That’s what happened to two teen drivers in Massachusetts who, like a scene out of Grand Theft Auto, had stolen a pair of Dodge Challengers and was caught speeding by an officer. Police decided not to chase after them in a high-speed pursuit and let them drive out of Auburn, but as luck would have it, the criminal duo decided to turn right around and head back to town. By the time they returned, officers were already lying in wait and ready to spring their trap.
Officers laid a trap for the teen drivers and waited for them to return
On October 1 at around 3:12 a.m., two teen drivers who were later identified as Worchester residents 18-year-old Jaelen Cannon-Feraud and an unnamed 16-year-old juvenile were caught speeding on Washington Street, according to a post by the Auburn MA Police Department on its official Facebook page.
Officer Lareau observed the pair driving in two Dodge Challengers that were going 60 mph in a 40-mph zone. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the duo decided to accelerate instead and raced off, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. Where other officers would have tried to chase them, Lareau thought it would be better to get assistance and got on the radio to contact other police departments.
His patience eventually paid off. Neighboring law enforcement departments kept tabs on the Dodge Challengers. One driver had crashed, prompting him to jump into his accomplice’s car and continue fleeing. But then the officer received a transmission he didn’t expect: The teens had turned around and were making their way back.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, officers laid stop sticks on the road and waited for the remaining Challenger to run over them. With its tires deflated, the vehicle crashed a short distance later. The post from the department wrote, “Turns out, the Challenger was considerably less challenging without air in the tires.”
18-year-old driver was arrested and faces seven charges
The teens chose not to surrender, though, and both decided to run away on foot. Unfortunately for them, the police were ready for the chase. Officer Ljunggren and his K9 Biza tracked the pair through the woods, while Officer Laskes deployed a drone to follow the car thieves from the air. A perimeter was established by other officers from Auburn and Massachusetts State Police.
With very little room to hide, one of the teens was found hiding behind a business on Route 20 and curled up in a ball. The other was located nearby. Both of them were arrested and taken into custody without further resistance.
“No unnecessary pursuit. Good communication. Stop sticks. K9 on the ground. Drone in the air,” the department wrote. “Smart, patient police work.”
Cannon-Feraud faces more than several charges, including operating a vehicle with a suspended license, possession of burglarious tools, failure to stop for police, negligent operation, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle. The 16-year-old minor also faces charges, but they have not been specified in the post.
According to a report by MassLive, Cannon-Feraud pleaded not guilty to the seven charges. He was arraigned in Worcester District Court on October 1, with court records showing that the judge has ordered him released on personal recognizance. However, he was required to wear a GPS monitor and ordered to stay away from victims and witnesses in the case.
One commenter on Facebook said that the teen drivers forgot one crucial fact in their escape attempt: “You can’t outrun the radio.”
Another commenter was surprised the teens couldn’t wait to their kicks in a video game instead: “Couldn’t just wait a month for GTA 6 had to go out and get some real life experience.”
