A Connecticut State Police vehicle in a file photo. State police said a teenager was arrested after he stole a Department of Children and Families vehicle and hit a police cruiser. 
NEW BRITAIN — A teenager is facing charges after police said he stole a state Department of Children and Families vehicle and hit a state police cruiser Wednesday afternoon. 
The 16-year-old boy is charged with reckless driving, first-degree criminal mischief, larceny of a motor vehicle, assault of a public safety officer and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to an incident report from Connecticut State Police. He was released into the custody of the Juvenile Detention Center. 
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Troopers responded around 2:30 p.m. to the state Department of Children and Families office on Grove Street after receiving a report of a stolen state vehicle, according to state police.
The teen “recklessly drove the vehicle through multiple towns in Connecticut at high rates of speed, and at some point rammed a CT State Police Cruiser,” the incident report states. 
Officials said state police personnel were not injured in the crash and the vehicle eventually was found abandoned. 
Police said the juvenile later was taken into custody with the help of the New Britain Police Department. 
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Connecticut DCF’s Director of Communications Peter Yazbak said the department was relieved that everyone was safe following the incident. 
“We are, as always, grateful for the swift response and collaboration of law enforcement, including State Police and the New Britain Police Department, in locating the vehicle and the individual responsible,” Yazbak said. 
Liz Hardaway is a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group.
She was a Hearst fellow in Connecticut and at the San Antonio Express-News where she covered city hall and local issues. She also worked at the Sun Newspapers in Southwest Florida as a general assignment reporter covering politics, business, and health. 
Liz graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. She enjoys cooking, reading and playing with her dachshund, Finn.
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