NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two 18-year-old men were apprehended after police received reports of a reckless driver in the area of the Sugar Mill subdivision just after midnight.
An officer observed the vehicle, a red Chevy Tahoe, at the intersection of Sugar Mill Drive and Gibraltar Boulevard, traveling at 70 m.p.h, police Sgt. Valerie Joyce reported. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle accelerated and began to disregard stop signs and other traffic laws. The officer then deactivated his emergency lights and followed the vehicle, advising via radio, the vehicle’s direction of travel and traffic violations.
The Tahoe struck a fence at the Babe James Youth Center on North Myrtle Avenue and drove through a wooded area where the officer lost sight of it. Moments later another officer advised the vehicle was abandoned in the roadway at the intersection of Julia St. and N. Myrtle Av. He observed shadowy figures between Julia St. and West Canal in the 700 block
He also advised that this was the same vehicle that had been reported stolen on Friday. A perimeter of the area was set-up by New Smyrna Beach police officers and Volusia County Sheriff's deputies, awaiting the arrival of NSB police K-9 Units.
K-9 Officer Diffin arrived on scene and began a track with his partner, Vigo. The dog led Diffin to Lincoln Woods and Wyatt Wright, who were hiding in a shed. Both 18-year-olds were taken into custody. K-9 Vigo and K-9 Buddy led Diffin and Holcomb to nearby areas where "several items of evidentiary value" were recovered.
Woods and Wright were both charged with auto theft and loitering and prowling. Woods was also charged with reckless driving and other traffic infractions. Both were transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail.