Garfield Heights police arrest three after chasing stolen Kia and Hyundai

Garfield Heights police officers arrested three men early Thursday morning after the three tried to flee from police in stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

According to the police report, it happened just after 4 am in the 12700 quarter of the Service Court.

The report says the officer came across Kia and Hyundai vehicles parked on the road. One person was in a Hyundai and two people were in a Kia. All three were wearing dark clothing and ski masks. In addition, the officer said they noticed both cars had their rear passenger windows smashed, “which is common with stolen cars.”

RELATED: Police data shows percentage of Kias and Hyundai stolen have tripled after TikTok challenge went viral

The officer wrote in the report that the driver of the Hyundai “seemed to panic upon seeing me and tried to quickly reverse but was unable to maneuver around the Kia.” The Hyundai crashed into the Kia and then hit a large rock that disabled the car. The driver jumped out of the Hyundai into the Kia, and that car fled from the police.

The officer gave chase and several more officers joined them. The report said the chase reached speeds of over 70 mph through mostly empty streets.

The Kia eventually stopped at Miles Park Elementary School after it crashed into a berm of snow and was blocked. Three men jumped out of the car and ran away, the report said.

The officers followed the footprints in the snow and found the three men. All three were taken into custody. The men were unarmed, but police found “criminal tools,” including USB sticks used to start Kia and Hyundai, as well as tools to open steering columns.

Authorities later confirmed that the Kia had been stolen from Cleveland. The Hyundai was not stolen, but police said they were contacting the owner to determine if the car was stolen because it had a broken window and damaged steering column.

The three men were charged with receiving stolen property, felony in the fourth degree, and possession of criminal tools, misdemeanor in the first degree.

RELATED: In just 2 months, 842 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Cuyahoga County.

In just two months, 842 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Cuyahoga County. The vast majority, 674, were from Cleveland. More details can be found in the player below:

In just 2 months, 842 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Cuyahoga County.

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