2 teens arrested; QC police chiefs ask for help with stolen-car ‘epidemic’

After two juvenile drivers face charges in connection with stolen cars, two Quad Cities police chiefs ask the community and legislators to help stop the “epidemic,” according to a joint statement from Moline and Rock Island police.

At 4:22 a.m. Saturday, a Moline Police officer was at 38th Street and 18th Avenue in Rock Island after giving a resident a ride from Moline to Rock Island. The Moline Police officer heard radio traffic that Rock Island Police were in pursuit of an SUV and a sedan that had just been involved in a gunfire incident in Rock Island.

The information relayed was that the vehicles were last seen eastbound on 18th Avenue from 30th Street in Rock Island.

Juveniles, a car chase and a crash

The Moline Police officer helped the resident, then saw two vehicles driving in the wrong lane of a one-way street, and they appeared to be following each other. The officer attempted a traffic stop by activating emergency lights on his squad car and the vehicles began accelerating as they continued eastbound into Moline on 19th Avenue, the release says.

A second Moline Police officer joined the pursuit to assist at 3rd Street and 19th Avenue. The suspect vehicles, disregarding traffic control devices, were driving recklessly at more than 80 mph. The cars north onto 15th Street Place from 19th Avenue and continued northbound into the Wyndham Hotel parking lot at 1415 River Drive, Moline.

The vehicles crashed into each other and the drivers ran off, with Moline Police officers chasing them. An officer caught a 14-year-old boy from Rock Island who was the driver of the red 2016 Kia Sorento SUV. Another Moline officer caught a 16-year-old boy from Davenport who was driving the silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra sedan.

Two additional officers from East Moline also arrived to assist. Three additional juvenile passengers – a 14-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl – were taken into custody for questioning. It was later confirmed that both vehicles were stolen out of Rock Island.

Initially at the scene, the vehicles had not been reported stolen, but officers saw the steering columns broken and USB devices used as keys. Later, the owners confirmed the vehicles had been stolen.

Juvenile Court Services responded to screen the cases for adjudication. The juvenile justice system is very different from the adult justice system, including the intake and adjudication process, the release says. This process is out of the control of the law enforcement agency. The juvenile drivers were charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding, and released on GPS monitoring pending court proceedings.

Other juveniles involved were questioned and released to their parents without charges.

The incident began about 3:20 a.m., when Rock Island Police responded to the area of the 1600 block of 18th Avenue in Rock Island for a report of gunfire involving two stolen vehicles.

Offenses that occurred in the City of Rock Island jurisdiction are still under investigation by the Rock Island Police Department. Further information will be released by their agency, the release says.

‘Law enforcement cannot stop this epidemic alone.’

“Again, we find ourselves dealing with juvenile behavior risking their own safety and that of the public. The stolen car epidemic might be the single greatest threat to public safety in the Quad Cities right now,” said Moline Police Chief Darren Gault. “I’m proud of the Moline Police Department officers who were able to resolve this situation last night. If those vehicles would have crashed resulting in injury or death, we would be having a different conversation today.”

“This on the heels of a scary situation just days ago with a toddler in a stolen vehicle,” he continued. “The public has to be exhausted from this problem and should be outraged. Law enforcement cannot stop this epidemic alone. The community needs to take action, including demanding action from the courts, legislators and in our neighborhoods.”

“I’ve had good conversations with local legislators about this problem, but it is a statewide issue that needs major attention. Every day the Quad Cities has vehicles stolen, many times by repeat offenders, that endanger the safety and quality of life in our community,” Gault said. “We have already had 38 stolen vehicles in the Illinois area in 18 days of 2025; nine of those in Moline. Something must be done. We need your help,” said Gault.

“The reckless acts of these juveniles continue to put the lives of those in our communities at great risk,” said Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud. “With the recent incident of a 4-year-old being kidnapped in the back of a stolen car, and now vehicles fleeing from police with an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old in the back seat, it is clear that these juveniles are becoming bolder and will only continue to escalate their deadly behavior, unless our system of catch and release isn’t changed by our state legislators. On behalf of the concerned citizens of Rock Island and the entire Quad Cities, we ask that our courts, our legislature, and our community members band together to demand change.”

The incident remains under investigation by the Rock Island Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. No further information was available early Sunday. Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Rock Island Police at 309-732-2677 or Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500, or use the P3 Tips app.

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