Oct 9, 2012 2 min read

A 16-year-old Bentleyville boy and his mother both face charges after he allegedly led North Franklin Township on a brief chase early Thursday. The teen faces charges including fleeing or attempting to elude police, not having a license, reckless driving and other traffic violations for the 2 a.m. pursuit. His mother, Doris Leonberger, 45, of McCormick Avenue, Bentleyville, is charged with driving under suspension, driving-under-the-influence-related and allowing her son out past curfew. Police were on patrol when they noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near a repair garage on Baltimore Avenue near Fulton Street. When Officer Zack Martsolf turned the cruiser around to check, the vehicle took off at a high speed up Fulton Street, went through a stop sign and turned onto Hancock Street. The driver, later identified as the 16-year-old, and the passenger got out of the car in front of 399 Hancock and fled on foot. Martsolf, holding his Taser, ordered the driver to get on the ground several times. When the teen refused, he was hit with a 5-second shot from the Taser and was taken into custody. Township and Washington police searched the area but were unable to find the passenger. The teen told police he fled because they had been smoking marijuana. Police found $845 in is pocket. He told police the money was his and he had saved it. When Leonberger came to the station to pick up her son, she identified herself as Doris Tyler. She also told police she could not give them her address because she was in the witness protection program. When she saw the envelope with the money her son had, she told police it was her money and he must have taken it from her. Police checked and determined she was driving with a suspended license. The 16-year-old is charged in a juvenile allegation. Charges against Leonberger will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger. The owner of the car, Lori Ryan, 45, of 28 Franklin St., Cokeburg, will be charged with permitting an unauthorized person to drive her vehicle. She told police she did not know the teen did not have a license and thought he was 18. The car was impounded by police.