By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
A Hays male juvenile was arrested for his alleged role in three vehicle thefts, vehicle burglary and stolen firearms.
Deputy Hays Police Chief Brian Dawson said three Hays juveniles allegedly stole three vehicles on Nov. 7 from West 17th Street, West 15th Street and Hillcrest Street in Hays.
One vehicle was involved in a rollover accident, and a vehicle owner reported a shotgun was inside their car when the vehicle was stolen.
Officers deployed K-9 units and drones to search the area of the rollover scene in the 1100 block of Rome Road. Dawson said the occupants had fled the scene.
Dawson also said on Nov. 7, a vehicle burglary allegedly took place on East 19th Street, resulting in a stolen Beretta handgun.
On Nov. 8, the second vehicle was found undamaged on East 15th Street and returned to its owner.
On Nov. 14, a tip led officers to one of the juvenile suspects who was reportedly in possession of the stolen Beretta handgun and was defacing its serial number, according to Dawson
Altering or removing the serial number of a firearm is a federal offense.
Dawson said officers executed a search warrant at the juvenile's residence, where they allegedly discovered the stolen Beretta handgun with the serial number scratched off. They also found the stolen shotgun and drug paraphernalia.
During the search, another male juvenile gave a false identity and posed as a runaway. He was arrested after being identified as having a warrant for rape out of Pawnee County. His arrest was unrelated to the vehicle thefts, Dawson said.
The juvenile suspected of being involved in the vehicle thefts was arrested and remains in juvenile detention as of Wednesday. Two other Hays juveniles, a male and a female, were questioned and released to their guardians.
On Nov. 26, the third stolen vehicle was located in rural Rush County, which was found damaged and subsequently towed.
Dawson said the juvenile, who was arrested for the vehicle thefts, has a hearing scheduled for Friday to determine whether he will remain in detention.