Teen charged after stealing van, eluding Cedar Rapids police

CEDAR RAPIDS - A teenager faces felony charges after being accused of stealing a College Community School District van and fleeing from police.

According to Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow, police responded to the 1500 block of Scarlet Sage Drive SW around 6:14 p.m. Aug. 8 for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was a minivan that had been reported stolen earlier from Prairie High School in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Police said they located the driver and attempted a traffic stop. However, the driver - later identified as 15-year-old Aiden Luby - refused to stop for the officers. A pursuit ensued.

The chase began on the 16th Avenue Bridge and ended with Luby crashing at 16th Avenue and Jacolyn Drive SW. Luby was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police also determined Luby damaged a gate and fence when he stole the van from Prairie High School.

Luby has been charged in Juvenile Court with second-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief and felony eluding. All three are Class D felonies. The Gazette identifies juveniles who have been charged with felonies.

He also faces several moving violations

A pretrial conference in the case has been scheduled for Sept. 10.