Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Chuck Hasty said it was not clear why the youngster was driving or how the juvenile came to have possession of the vehicle. No one was injured and the vehicle was seized.
The events that led to the chase began around 3 a.m. when Sergeant Daniel Jenkins attempted to stop a vehicle leaving a parking lot near Tenth and Virginia streets for suspicious activity.
The driver refused to stop. Jenkins pursued the vehicle, the juvenile trying to get away a high rate of speed, going in excess of 60 miles per hour on city streets, Hasty said.
The vehicle struck a fire hydrant on Wyche Street and continued toward Highway 158 where it struck a tree and came to rest near the entrance of Windchase Apartments.
Jenkins obtained a secure custody order on the juvenile for felony flee to elude arrest and damage to property.
The Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District had to cap off the hydrant, Hasty said.
