Two escape after crashing stolen car into apartment

Two people are at large after crashing a stolen car into an apartment in Middletown early Friday morning, according to Franklin police.

Lt. Brian Pacifico with Franklin police said an officer spotted a maroon Hyundai Elantra that was reported stolen driving south on Riley Boulevard. The car was connected to an earlier aggravated robbery in the city of Oakwood, a suburb of Dayton.

“You don’t know what their mindset is," Pacifico said. "You have someone here who committed a felonious crime, a violent felonious crime somewhere else. We don’t want that to happen again in our city or any other city."

When police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver took off and, at a high rate of speed, drove south on Riley over South Main Street and onto State Route 73 West into Middletown, police said.

Pacifico said a second vehicle, a Lincoln Navigator, might have been involved in the pursuit. Dash camera video from inside a police cruiser shows that vehicle as being ahead of the Hyundai. Two minutes into the pursuit, the driver of the Navigator pulled onto a side street. The pursuit then focused on the driver of the Hyundai.

The suspect vehicle tried to turn onto Carmody Boulevard, but lost control and crashed into an apartment. Dash camera footage shows two suspects, both teens, busting out the apartment window, and running away.

“It’s very sad. It’s ruining your life," Pacifico said. "Maybe they thought this was fun, and a joyous thing to do what they did. They’re ruining their lives at a young age. If found guilty of these crimes, you’re looking at a felony record early in your life. That follows you forever."

A 14-year-old girl was found hiding in the bathroom of the apartment, Pacifico said. She was taken into custody without incident.

The man who lived in the apartment was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

“He was asleep on the couch. The couch got pushed when the car came in. He’s very lucky,” he said.

The two teens who ran off were not located. Franklin police said one of the suspects was wearing a white shirt and dark pants. The other was wearing a gray shirt and blue-gray jeans.