BALSAM LAKE, Wis. (WXCE) — A 14-year-old is in custody in Anoka County, Minnesota following a series of incidents in Wisconsin Monday and early Tuesday.
The incidents began in Eau Claire County Monday afternoon where 14-year-old Cole Laird was operating a stolen vehicle, and brandishing a handgun, attempted an armed burglary at a residence in the Woodville area in St. Croix County. Laird fled the residence prior to officers arriving and the vehicle was observed in the New Richmond area a short time later. Polk County Sheriff Pete Johnson says after the vehicle was seen in New Richmond, Laird ended up in the Cedar Lake area in southern Polk County, near the St. Croix County line.
Johnson says the youngster crashed a vehicle about 6:30 this morning while officers were chasing him in Forest Lake Minnesota. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, and will then be sent to the Anoka County Regional Juvenile Center. It ended a 15-hour search for a series of incidents that began yesterday afternoon. That was when the teen had an undisclosed type of encounter with officers in Eau Claire County.
Gunshots were reportedly fired as officers tried finding the teen.
by Kurt Meyer, WXCE.
