Teen drove into house, police say

CLAYTON -- A 15-year-old drove a car into a house under construction in Raleigh on Tuesday evening as he fled from a Clayton officer pursuing him for shoplifting shoes, police said.

The teen, a Wake County resident whose name was not released, was not injured in the accident in the Laurel Ridge subdivision off Rock Quarry Road, Clayton Police Chief Glen B. Allen said.

The teen was charged with felony speeding to elude arrest, driving without a license, resisting an officer and larceny.

A passenger, Douglas Howard Franklin, 26, of 4203 Western Blvd. in Raleigh was charged with resisting an officer and larceny. A third person, William Christopher Allen, 19, of 7501 Trudy Lane in Garner was charged with larceny in the shoe theft.

Allen said the episode began when Clayton police responded to a report that employees at the Shoe Show at 829 Town Centre Blvd. had confronted three young men who were trying to steal shoes. After threatening the employees, the three left the store, dropping all but one pair of athletic shoes valued at $40, Allen said.

Two fled in a 1995 Chrysler, and the third ran away on foot.

Police officer S.J. Holzshu spotted the Chrysler on U.S. 70 and pursued it about six miles into Wake County, Allen said. The brief chase reached speeds close to 60 or 65 mph, Allen said.

He said the teen apparently drove into the subdivision to elude the officer and was trying to drive into the garage of the unfinished house when the wreck occurred.

The driver and passenger then fled on foot but were quickly arrested with the aid of Raleigh police and Wake sheriff's deputies, Allen said.