Three Teen Car Burglars Arrested Friday Morning in Stolen Mercedes

Three teenage car burglars were arrested Friday morning by TITANS Unit detectives after they fled several times overnight in a stolen Mercedes SUV that was involved in recent vehicle break-ins.

The Mercedes, which was reported stolen Wednesday from a home on Couch Drive, had been identified as the suspect vehicle responsible for reported break-ins Thursday night across Davidson County. In one incident, a 38-year-old man was fired on when he heard car alarms outside his North 9th Street residence and went outside to check on his vehicle. He told East Precinct officers he saw a person crouched by his neighbor's Chevrolet Corvette prior to hearing gunshots. He was not struck. The Corvette's window had been shattered.

The Mercedes proceeded to flee from patrol officers multiple times throughout the night and was observed traveling at over 100 miles per hour on Briley Parkway just after midnight. With assistance from MNPD Aviation, the three teenage occupants of the Mercedes were seen running from the vehicle into a Charlotte Pike apartment building.

Detectives successfully located the teens (ages 16, 17 and 18) inside the residence as well as the keys to the Mercedes, and an AR-15 rifle in a bedroom closet where the 17-year-old was found hiding. Multiple window break tools were recovered from inside the Mercedes.

All three admitted to being inside the Mercedes and to being present during numerous vehicle burglaries. They were each charged with vehicle theft and possession of burglary tools.

The 17-year-old was additionally charged with juvenile handgun possession.

The 18-year-old, Eric Gladney, was additionally charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He remains jailed today on $55,000 bond.

Additional charges are being considered for all three.