Juvenile in Four Oaks Independence escape accused of hitting man with car

INDEPENDENCE - One of the three juveniles who ran away from the Four Oaks facility in Independence earlier this month is also accused of hitting someone with a car during their escape.

In a news release, the Independence Police Department said they had charged an individual with assault with a weapon, the weapon being a car. The assault occurred at the Casey's General Store in Independence at 9:08 p.m. Dec. 13.

Independence Police Capt. Brian Brinkema said the suspect was one of the three juveniles who fled the Four Oaks facility on Dec. 13. The Gazette does not publish the name of juveniles charged with crimes lower than a felony.

According to the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, the three boys left the Four Oaks Facility around 7:15 p.m. Roughly an hour later, the boys were reported fleeing from Casey's in a dark-colored sport-utility vehicle. The SUV was located and a pursuit ensued.

The chase ended at Interstate 380 and Highway 150 in Benton County when the SUV left the road and rolled into a ditch. All three boys were taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The SUV was determined to be stolen, according to the sheriff's office.