RAPID CITY, S.D. – A juvenile is in custody following a botched morning vehicle theft in downtown Rapid City that ended in a parking lot collision.

Rapid City police officers were dispatched at approximately 7:25 a.m. on Aug. 10 to a parking lot at 312 Main St. for a report of an individual attempting to steal a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting party, who stated they were watching CCTV footage of the lot when they observed an unknown male enter a parked SUV.

The male attempted to drive the SUV but was unable to get the vehicle into gear properly, likely because it had a manual transmission. During the attempt, he crashed the SUV into a nearby truck.

The owner of the SUV went out to the parking lot to confront the suspect, who then fled the scene on foot.

Officers located the male a short time later in the 600 block of Main St. He was detained and identified as a juvenile. A witness positively identified the youth as the individual seen attempting to drive the SUV.

The juvenile has since been entered into the appropriate channels of the juvenile justice system.