According to an update from the Janesville Police Department, this morning just before 3 a.m. Janesville Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1300 block of E. Memorial after a homeowner caught two males attempting to steal his vehicle. The vehicle was a Kia, which has been a current target for car thieves. The homeowner saw the suspects leave in another Kia vehicle and provided the license plate number.
A responding Janesville officer located the suspect vehicle at Milton and Walker and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled from officers west on Centerway and then south on Center Ave. The suspect driver nearly hit a pedestrian at Center and Joliet. The pursuit continued south on Highway 51 with speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. A Rock County deputy was able to deploy Stop Sticks and the Kia continued to drive on two flat front tires. The pursuit ended near Beloit at Riverside and Bayliss. Three suspects exited and fled on foot. With the assistance of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Beloit, and City of Beloit Police Departments, a perimeter was set up around the area and all three suspects were captured.
Through the course of the investigation, the Kia being operated during the pursuit on today’s date was stolen from the City of Beloit. All three of these suspects were also involved in the early morning incident on April 26 in the City of Janesville after they were caught breaking into a residence on Elida St. Three suspects were captured immediately, and one suspect, Matthew Kluth, had fled that incident in another stolen vehicle which was later found abandoned in Beloit. Kluth had not yet been apprehended for that incident, until today. He was also the driver of the vehicle on today’s date.
18 year old Matthew Kluth is facing charges of operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, felony fleeing, recklessly endangering safety, possession of burglary tools (party to a crime), criminal damage to property (party to a crime), resisting/obstructing an officer, and trespassing from this morning’s incident. He also faces charges of burglary, operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent, felony fleeing, resisting or obstructing an officer, dognapping, and theft from the April 26 incident. A 15 and 16 year old are facing charges of operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent (passenger), possession of burglary tools (party to a crime), criminal damage to property (party to a crime), resisting or obstructing an officer, and trespassing. All suspects are being held in custody at the jail or the Youth Services Center.
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