'Stay woke': Sheriff warns parents after teens arrested during high-speed chase

Five teens have been arrested and charged after officials said they led officers on two separate pursuits across Harris County, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. Five teens have been arrested and charged after officials said they led officers on two separate pursuits across Harris County, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. Photo: OnScene.TV Photo: OnScene.TV Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close 'Stay woke': Sheriff warns parents after teens arrested during high-speed chase 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez had stern words for parents of children who commit crimes across the Houston region: Stay woke and know what your teen is up to.

The sheriff blasted parents on Twitter after Harris County deputies arrested and charges five teens after officials said they led officers on two separate pursuits across Harris County, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.

The teens are between the ages of 13 and 16 and were arrested after they led deputies on two simultaneous pursuits Wednesday night following a report of "suspicious persons meddling with cars in a parking lot" near an apartment complex on the 5000 block of Aldine Mail Route, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies waited at the apartment complex until the suspects pulled out driving separate vehicles and fled, Ecke said. Deputies pursued and became involved in two simultaneous pursuits that each lasted roughly 10 to 12 minutes, according to HCSO Lt. Chris Ecke.

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Both vehicles ended up crashing in different parts of the county. With help of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the suspects were arrested, he said.No injuries were reported and deputies recovered all weapons, he said.

Officials believe the teen suspects in two separate carjackings involving a weapon; one in the city of Houston and another just five minutes from the Harris County Sheriff's Office station, Ecke said.

Gonzalez in a tweet placed blame on the parents of children whose crimes "destroy their lives and others."

"We must recognize the very real trauma their violent acts are inflicting upon our community," he said, adding that crimes committed by teens are very serious in nature and include violent crimes, such as carjackings, auto-thefts, shootings and armed robberies.

I wish I could say this is unique, teens involved in alleged crimes of this magnitude, sadly it’s not. Parents, please step up, your teens are destroying their lives and others. We must recognize the very real trauma their violent acts are inflicting upon our community. #HouNews https://t.co/V22pNYztHJ — Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 3, 2019

He also said the 13-year-old was arrested in this incident had been arrested before.

"Statistics tell us that teens involved in the criminal justice system at an early age will occupy our County jails," he said. "We do our part with intervention & prevention programs. But frankly, it starts at home.

"Stay woke and know what your teen is up to," he added.

They are being charged with aggravated robbery, Ecke said.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com

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