ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997 TAG: 9701270027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS
A town police officer narrowly escaped injury this week when he had to pull a young driver out of a van just before the vehicle struck a police car.
The Thursday morning joy ride resulted in multiple charges against the driver, a 14-year-old boy, who is being held at the New River Valley Detention Home in Christiansburg.
Police said the vehicle involved was a 1993 Ford van that belonged to the juvenile's parents. About 12:50 a.m. Thursday police spotted the van on Patrick Henry Drive driving without its headlights on. Police attempted to stop the vehicle.
The van accelerated and ran through red lights at Progress and North Main streets. Police got the van's license number and traced it to a northeast Blacksburg home.
Instead of pursuing the van, police said they went to the residence. While there, the van arrived, and officers on foot told the driver to stop.
When the van halted, a police officer opened the driver's door and seized the boy.
In response, the boy tried to drive away, carrying the officer along. The officer pulled the boy out of the van just before it struck a police cruiser parked on the street.
No one was injured. Damage to the police cruiser is estimated at $1,000.
Police said the van belonged to the boy's parents, who were unaware that he was driving it or was away from home.
The boy has been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, assaulting a police officer and reckless driving. No hearing date has been set.
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB