Three juveniles have been implicated in at least 16 cases of auto theft throughout Kosciusko County after the Warsaw Police Department responded to a call early Friday morning.

Seven of the auto theft cases were filed in Warsaw and nine more cases were filed with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.

WPD officers responded to a citizen's complaint regarding a break-in to a motor vehicle near Taylor Street, Warsaw, at 5 a.m. Friday. When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect's vehicle fled. After a short pursuit, the fleeing vehicle, which was later determined to be stolen, wrecked in a beanfield on CR 300N in Warsaw.

Two suspects fled the wrecked vehicle on foot, but were later apprehended by police and the police K-9 unit.

One of the juveniles, Kane Hively, 17, was identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle and was charged as an adult. He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail for auto theft, felony fleeing law enforcement and driving while intoxicated.

A 16-year-old male accomplice also was apprehended near the scene of the accident. The juvenile Warsaw resident was detained and later transported to the South Bend Juvenile Justice Center.

The investigation of the incident also led to the arrest of a 15-year old Warsaw resident.

After stealing the cars, the suspects reportedly usually abandoned them in a field. Some of the cars also were burned after being abandoned.

Additional charges are expected to be filed against other individuals in this case, which is still under investigation. [[In-content Ad]]