3 boys pushing stalled vehicle found with guns, ammo in Pleasant Prairie
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Pleasant Prairie police took three juveniles, ages 11, 12, and 13, into custody after finding they were in possession of loaded handguns.
The incident happened Monday, Sept. 20 near 39th Street and Florist Avenue around 6:20 p.m.
Police said while conducting patrol duties, an officer observed three young males pushing a vehicle. The officer turned around and returned to the area, and noticed the males "momentarily walk away" from the vehicle into a nearby yard, and then return to the stalled car.
The juveniles, ages 11, 12, and 13, all from Zion, Illinois, stated they ran out of gas.
"The 13-year-old had the keys to the car in his pocket, and they indicate that the vehicle ran out of gas, and they were going to search around the neighborhood to see if anyone could give them gas," Chief David Smetana told CBS 58.
The officer conducted a protective search of the parties and found the 13-year-old was possessing a loaded handgun. Officials say the 13-year-old struggled with the officer but was placed into custody. Once in custody, police say he made a threat to the arresting officer’s safety.
"When we're dealing with the out of state plates, the vehicle being pushed, the individuals looking very young, that starts to build that probable cause and that reasonable suspicion for that pat down," Smetana said.
While checking the area, officers located a backpack in the nearby yard that the group had momentarily visited. Within the bag was another loaded handgun and a loaded 50 round drum magazine for a handgun. Officers also found additional ammunition for the handguns in the vehicle.
Police said the car was a rental. It was reported stolen by the person leasing it after it had been recovered by the police.
The guns and ammunition are believed to belong to the person who was leasing the car.
"Part of the reason we're even talking about this is that it was a 13-year-old party with a firearm, and if that 13-year-old makes a horrendously bad decision at that point when the police officer stops him, that ends in a tragedy," Smetana said.
The 13-year-old was placed into juvenile detention and held on submitted charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Adjudicated Delinquent, Battery or Threats to Law Enforcement, and Resisting/Obstructing.
The two other juveniles were released to their parents.