Teen car theft suspects apprehended under pontoon boat after police chase

ALLENDALE TWP. — Two teenagers are in custody after a stolen vehicle report triggered a police pursuit and a multi-agency manhunt through Chester Township on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident began on June 30, when deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 48 West Apartments in Allendale Township. A 2014 Ford Edge had been reported stolen from the complex sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

The vehicle didn't stay missing for long. At approximately 1:45 p.m., a deputy spotted the stolen SUV being driven along Gooding Street in nearby Chester Township. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver pulled into an unrelated driveway.

According to authorities, the driver and a front-seat passenger immediately fled from the vehicle toward Crockery Lake.

Law enforcement quickly flooded the area, establishing a secure perimeter to box in the suspects. The search drew a heavily coordinated response, utilizing resources from the sheriff's office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Grand Valley State University Police Department.

The search intensified around a nearby residential property, where K-9 units and officers eventually flushed out the fugitives. The two suspects — a 19-year-old from Grand Rapids and a 15-year-old from Grandville — were discovered hiding underneath a pontoon boat.

The 19-year-old was arrested and lodged at the Ottawa County Jail on multiple charges. The 15-year-old juvenile was released into the custody of their parents.

Police did not disclose if the suspects were male or female.

Officials confirmed that the stolen Ford Edge was successfully recovered and has since been returned to its rightful owner.

The incident remains under active investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.

— Submitted by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.