A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody early Friday after police located a stolen vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm following a pursuit in Madera, authorities said.

An officer spotted the stolen vehicle in the city’s northeast limits, an area where multiple vehicles were reported stolen the night before, the Madera Police Department said. The vehicle, carrying multiple occupants, led the officer on a pursuit into the county near Avenue 18 1/2 and Road 25 1/2.

The pursuit ended after the suspect vehicle was involved in a minor single-vehicle crash, police said. The occupants fled the area on foot.

Officers located one juvenile suspect shortly afterward hiding in a field, according to police. A loaded firearm was recovered from the stolen vehicle.

The 14-year-old male juvenile was later booked into Juvenile Hall, authorities said.

Police encouraged residents to report stolen vehicles as soon as possible and said officers are responding to reports while also monitoring and addressing crime trends in the city.

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