Three teenagers in Menlo Park, California, are facing multiple charges after they were accused of stealing a vehicle. Local police, instead of engaging in a high-speed chase, decided to use a GPS tracker to stop the teens, one of whom is a 13-year-old.
As reported by KTVU, the incident occurred on Saturday, May 23. At the time, officers with the Menlo Park Police Department (MPPD) spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
Officers then attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop. However, the driver of the vehicle, one of the aforementioned teenagers, allegedly fled “at a high rate of speed,” the MPPD detailed in a press release, sharing footage of the fleeing vehicle.
A pursuit was initiated at the time. However, instead of insisting on a dangerous, albeit traditional high-speed chase, police officers chose to use a GPS tracker instead.
StarChase Deployed
MPPD officers deployed the StarChase system. This system, which is becoming more popular in different parts of the country, involves launching a tracker that attaches to a suspect’s vehicle. That way, authorities are able to track the vehicle’s location and approach an eventual stop and arrest more strategically.
“Pursuits are dangerous,” MPPD Sgt. Allen Swanson told the outlet. “So having other options besides either giving up and letting the guy go or chasing him until the wheels fall off… It’s nice to have other tools that we can use for that.”
The officer’s decision to use the StarChase system rendered results. In Berkeley, police managed to stop the vehicle and place all of its occupants under arrest.
Teenagers Arrested
All three of the occupants were taken into custody. The suspects are two 15-year-olds and one 13-year-old. Police officers also recovered a replica Glock 19 handgun, sharing a photo of the firearm online.
The MPPD confirmed that the juvenile driver was charged with reckless evading and possession of a stolen vehicle. Given state laws, the suspect’s charges will be handled in the juvenile justice system, as only 16 and 17-year-olds can be tried as adults.
This means that, if found guilty, the driver, who is the only one charged in connection with the incident, would receive a sentence that is aimed at their rehabilitation. Of course, as the suspect is a minor, authorities will not disclose their identity.
GPS Tracker Success Mixed in California
KTVU detailed that, while the MPPD has used StarChase successfully, other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area are not having the same results. Specifically, Oakland police have dropped the use of the GPS tracker technology as its success has been lacking.
Secure Justice executive director Brian Hofer told the outlet that suspects could avoid the effects of the StarChase rather simply. According to him, all they had to do was stop the car, dispose of the dart, and just drive off. Even Sgt. Swanson himself detailed that StarChase darts have a stick rate of 60%.
Meanwhile, other California cities, such as Fremont or San Francisco, have adopted the technology. And while its efficacy might be questioned, it is for certain that it is a much safer alternative to a high-speed chase, a situation that can often lead to fatal results.