Sheriff: Boy, 13, arrested on DUI – in stolen car

A 13-year-old boy was arrested Friday night in central Fresno after he was caught driving a stolen car while intoxicated, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.

A sheriff’s deputy saw a Honda Accord spin out of control at Ashlan Avenue near the northbound Highway 99 off-ramp around 10:45 p.m. He then saw a boy run from the driver’s seat, alongside four other occupants of the car, sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said.

The deputy called for additional units as the Accord was a reported stolen vehicle. They were able to catch three of the five suspects who were hiding around the nearby Union Pacific Railroad yard.

The deputy smelled a strong odor of alcohol on the 13-year-old’s breath while talking to him, Botti said. A California Highway Patrol officer was called to conduct a field sobriety test on the teenager. The test indicated that the teenager was intoxicated.

The 13-year-old faces felony charges for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property, and a misdemeanor charge of DUI.

A 17-year-old boy faces felony charges for vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools. A 17-year-old girl faces a felony charge for possession of stolen property.

The three teenagers were booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center.

The stolen Accord was being returned to its owner, Botti said.

Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to call the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7687).

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Sheriff: Boy, 13, arrested on DUI – in stolen car."