JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — An adult and six teenagers are in custody after reportedly fleeing from a gun store burglary.
According to the Jeffersonville Police Department, the burglary alarm went off at the Kentuckiana Gun Store, located on State Road 62, around 1 a.m.
Police said responding officers saw the gun store's door forced open. During this time, Indiana State Police (ISP) saw a white 2000 Ford Mustang fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. A trooper initiated a traffic stop, which ultimately led to the Mustang driving off.
Jeffersonville Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office each helped in the pursuit, and officers said a Jeffersonville police officer successfully deployed stop sticks on I-65 S before crossing the Kennedy Bridge.
Police said the Mustang drove into Louisville and was eventually stopped near St. Catherine Street, due to the successful stop stick deployment.
Officers said all of the suspects, except for one, were teenagers. The one man was identified as Saul Gradiz Alverenga. They are all in custody.
Lieutenant Sam Moss talked about the break-in and arrests Wednesday afternoon and said Jeffersonville Police Department thinks this was an isolated incident.
"We don't have a rash of any kind of break-ins, especially at firearm dealers or anything like that, and due to all the arrestees being from Louisville we definitely believe this was an isolated incident," Moss said. "We don't have any kind of information that would suggest the motive behind this burglary."
What happens to those firearms now?
If it were Louisville, the seized guns would go to the Kentucky State Police where they are often sold at auction. Mayor Craig Greenberg has been critical about this process, saying the seized guns get back onto the streets. He outlined a new plan here.
Police departments across the river play by different rules, so WHAS11 News asked Moss where the guns will go.
"ATF takes inventory of them and their process, I'm not sure what their process is as far as that goes," he said.
So, we asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). John Nokes, assistant special agent in charge of the Columbus Field Division, said it's a different procedure.
"When ATF is involved, we don't surrender those firearms like that, it's a different procedure. So we will take those in and they will ultimately be destroyed," he said.
Nokes noted that's subject to change after speaking with partnering agencies, but they do not want firearms to get back on the streets.
He also clarified, though ATF is involved in this case, he is not expecting federal charges.
"Even though juveniles can be charged with federal crimes, it is very rare," he said.
Violent crimes involving teens and kids are impacting cities and states across the U.S. However, Nokes said the federal system is not best equipped for juvenile crimes.
"The federal prison system is not set up for juveniles," he said. "It is a heavy burden to charge juveniles because the system is not set up for that."
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Jeffersonville Police Department Detective Division at 812-285-6535 or the anonymous tips line at 812-218-TIPS (8477).
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