Teen leads police on Downriver chase before crashing into building

RIVERVIEW, Mich. (WJBK) - A driver tried to outrun the law in two Downriver communities after an officer tried to pull him over.

The teen driver was in a stolen Saturn Vue and led the chase before crashing into a building Sunday morning.

Austin Valez, Jr. of River Rouge attempted to flee on foot but  chased down and arrested by police.

"For someone that age to put the public at risk leads me to believe that they're not that mature," said Riverview Police Chief Clifford Rosebohm.

The chase started in Wyandotte when police noticed Valdez driving down Fort Street reported stolen out of Detroit in January.

Rosebohm says his officers picked up the chase when Valez crossed into Riverview.

"He went through several intersections without stopping at a high rate of speed," he said.

Police say Valez has a record, and wouldn't stop the car until accidentally hopping a curb, and crashing into the front doors of Target Steel on Krause.

"There was a short foot pursuit, able to bring that person into custody," Rosebohm said. "Nobody was hurt. No officers were hurt. That's the good thing about it."

Valez is being charged as an adult with one count of fleeing and eluding police in the third degree. That felony carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.