Whitewater police Tuesday arrested two juveniles after receiving a report of a stolen vehicle which led to them giving chase into Waukesha County.

According to information released Tuesday by the department, police received a report at approximately 8 a.m., alerting them of a stolen vehicle parked in the 400 block of North Tratt Street, Whitewater.

At approximately 8:24 a.m., officers located the stolen vehicle, which was being operated by two suspects, according to the release.

When the officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the release noted, the suspects accelerated the vehicle, and a pursuit was initiated.

Officers pursued the vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour into Jefferson County, where Jefferson County deputies deploying spike strips in an attempt to slow the vehicle, the release read. 

The pursuit continued into Waukesha County where Whitewater police terminated the pursuit due to reported traffic hazards.

After terminating the pursuit, the release continued, officers remained in the area and were able to determine that the vehicle was stationary in Waukesha County near the intersection of Highway 67 and Wilton Road.

The Whitewater Police Department drone was deployed to locate the vehicle, which, according to the release, “was found off the roadway with heavy damage.”

The two suspects, both identified as juveniles, were located by the Whitewater Police Department with the assistance of Waukesha County deputies and were taken into custody without incident.

The suspects were subsequently confined at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, the release noted, adding that a number of charges, including Operating without Owner’s Consent (Wis. Stat. 943.42(2)(b)), Fleeing and Eluding an Officer (Wis. Stat. 346.04(3)), Recklessly Endangering Safety (Wis. Stat. 941.30(1)), Reckless Driving (Wis. Stat. 346.62(2)), and Operating without a License (Wis. Stat. 343.05(3)(a)) will be forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.

The Whitewater Police Department highly encourages residents to lock their vehicles, ensuring that vehicle keys are not left inside. Three vehicles were reported stolen to the Whitewater Police Department in the past week, and in each instance, vehicles were unlocked with readily accessible keys, the release stated. 

Agencies assisting Tuesday include the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department, Palmyra Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Natural Resources.