USA News: Forklift Fiasco: Ann Arbor’s Most Unlikely Chase Raises Eyebrows Across the City
ANN ARBOR, MI — US — In a bizarre and dangerous incident on Friday night, officers responded to Forsyth Middle School after reports of a juvenile attempting to steal a construction vehicle. Little did they know, this escapade would lead to a slow-speed chase, property damage, and the arrest of a 12-year-old boy from Ann Arbor.
At approximately 6:45 pm, officers rushed to Forsyth Middle School on Newport Road, discovering the juvenile attempting to make off with a Construction Genie GTH-636 Telehandler, a forklift-equipped vehicle with a weight of up to 35,000 pounds. The vehicle, left unlocked with the key hidden inside the cab, became the unlikely weapon of choice for this preteen thrill-seeker.
By 6:48 pm, officers spotted the stolen vehicle traveling southbound on Brooks Street near Pearl Street, ominously navigating the streets without any lights on. A slow-motion pursuit ensued, with multiple officers trailing the rogue forklift at speeds of 15 to 20 mph, emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring. The scene resembled something out of a surreal suburban chase, weaving through the Georgetown Boulevard neighborhood.
The bizarre saga took a destructive turn as the juvenile driver careened through the residential area, colliding with approximately ten parked vehicles along the way. Miraculously, no injuries were reported during this unusual vehicular escapade.
Around 7:18 pm, officers decided to terminate the pursuit as the stolen forklift ventured northbound on Nixon Road, crossing the M-14 bridge. Taking over the chase, deputies with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office continued tailing the 12-year-old daredevil until he finally came to a halt at approximately 7:53 pm near M-14 and Gotfredson.
The young driver was promptly taken into custody and later lodged at the juvenile detention center. The incident, described by law enforcement as “very dangerous,” is under active investigation. Preliminary findings reveal that the juvenile effortlessly gained access to the construction vehicle due to its unlocked state and the key conveniently stashed inside the cab.
“This was a very dangerous situation that could’ve easily ended with serious injuries,” remarked an officer involved in the case. As the investigation unfolds, the community is left both bewildered and concerned about how a seemingly ordinary Friday evening turned into a spectacle involving a pint-sized driver and a heavyweight forklift.
