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Two young men who led police on a chase across Marco Island were taken into custody Friday after a search spanning four hours.

One of the youths, a 17-year-old from Oviedo, Fla., was listed as missing. Police in the area received word to be on the lookout for a car he was believed to be riding in.

When a Marco Island Police officer spotted the car a little after noon, the driver, Thomas Green, allegedly sped off, according to Marco Island Police Captain Thom Carr. Green, whose age is not yet known, may be wanted out of the Orlando area for a petty theft charge, but police are still working to confirm that, Carr said.

That may be the reason Green allegedly gave chase, Carr said, but he would have to first interview Green to understand why he ran.

The car both young men were traveling in is registered to Green’s mother, Carr said.

“He hit one of our cars and injured one of our officers,” Carr said. “He then hit another car and ran through the gate at Hideaway (Beach).”

Green then lost control of the car, hitting what Carr said was probably a telephone box. The officer who was injured in the first collision was taken to the hospital with minor head injuries, Carr said.

With the suspect’s vehicle disabled, both young men got out of the car and led the officers on a foot chase through the Hideaway Beach area.

Police went knocking door-to-door and checked car trunks as drivers left the area of Marco Island Friday afternoon. Collier County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the island to provide backup, placing roughly two dozen county or city vehicles throughout the area.

Colonial Avenue was blocked off for about two hours as police canvassed the area with the help of a police dog and a helicopter.

Around 1:40, police found the runaway in a wooded area, partly with the help of the dog, Carr said. Because he is a minor and is not being charged with a crime, the young man’s name was not provided.

He was helped into a waiting patrol car while police continued the search.

Roughly an hour later, a Marco Island Fire Rescue unit arrived with an ambulance, eventually moving the suspect from the squad car, helping him onto a gurney and restraining him. Carr said he did not suffer any serious injuries.

“Just scratches and stuff,” he said. “Where they went into the woods was nasty.”

Carr said he called off the search around 3 p.m. because they had taken the runaway into custody and had possession of Green’s car, but a resident called the police station around 5 p.m. and said she thought the suspect was right in front of her house. Police Chief Roger Reinke was able to take Green into custody without further incident, Carr said.

Green will likely be brought up on multiple charges, Carr said, as a result of his chase through the island.

“He’s damaged three pieces of property,” Carr said. “And we still don’t know why yet.”