<body><div><p>A routine traffic stop turned into a dramatic pursuit when Rockford Police officers attempted to halt a stolen vehicle early on Sunday morning (10/6).</p><h2>Two Juveniles in Custody: Charges Filed</h2><p>Around 12:30 a.m., officers from the Rockford Police SCOPE unit identified a stolen vehicle in the 1200 block of Jackson Street.</p><p>Tensions escalated when the 14-year-old driver fled on foot, prompting a brief but intense chase before officers successfully apprehended him.</p><p>The fleeing driver and his 14-year-old passenger were both taken into custody shortly after the incident. The driver faces serious charges, including felony theft and possession of a stolen vehicle, and is currently lodged in juvenile detention.</p><p>Meanwhile, the passenger has been charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle but was released to a parent or guardian.</p><h2>Ongoing Investigation: Potential for Additional Charges</h2><p>The Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the case and indicated that further charges may arise as the investigation continues, but also stated that these charges are merely accusations and all individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p><p>The Rockford Police Department is calling on the community for assistance. Anyone with information related to this incident or other events is encouraged to come forward.</p><p>Tips can be submitted through the police department's official app, or by calling Rockford Police at 815-966-2900. Anonymous tips can be called into Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.</p><p>This story is continuing to develop and will be updated as more information becomes available.</p><h2>LOOK: Here are the best lake towns to live in</h2><p>Many of the included towns jump out at the casual observer as popular summer-rental spots--the Ozarks' Branson, Missouri, or Arizona's Lake Havasu--it might surprise you to dive deeper into some quality-of-life offerings beyond the beach and vacation homes. You'll likely pick up some knowledge from a wide range of Americana: one of the last remaining 1950s-style drive-ins in the Midwest; a Florida town that started as a Civil War veteran retirement area; an island boasting some of the country's top public schools and wealth-earners right in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing much more than Johnny Cash's prison blues.</p></div></body>

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Stolen Vehicle Pursuit in Rockford: Two 14-Year-Olds Taken Into Custody

A routine traffic stop turned into a dramatic pursuit when Rockford Police officers attempted to halt a stolen vehicle early on Sunday morning (10/6). Around 12:30 a.m., officers from the Rockford Police SCOPE unit identified a stolen vehicle in the 1200 block of Jackson Street. Tensions escalated when the 14-year-old...