15-year-old Michigan escapee arrested in Huntington County

DISCUSS

Running out of gas on Interstate 69 proved to be the end of the line for a 15-year-old Michigan fugitive late Thursday morning, according to a release from the Indiana State Police.

The boy had reportedly run away from a detention facility in Michigan within the last week and was said to have been in possession of stolen property, including the car that ran out of gas.

According to the release, at about 10:45 a.m., Master Trooper Donald Stoffel responded to a report of a broken-down vehicle on southbound I-69 near the 81-mile marker in Huntington County. There was also reportedly a person attempting to flag down traffic next to the broken-down vehicle.

When Stoffel arrived, he found the vehicle, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, without a license plate or anyone in or around it. He drove down I-69 to the state police weigh station at the 78-mile marker and found a boy who was later identified as a 15-year-old from Cadillac, Mich.

The youth told Stoffel he ran out of gas and was looking for help.

Because the vehicle had no plate and was parked on the interstate, Stoffel contacted a local towing service to have it impounded.

While looking for the registration in the glove box, he found a loaded .38-caliber handgun and Vicodin pills. The youth was taken into custody and was later found in possession of a stolen laptop, router and cell phone, according to the release.