Gasconade County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Limberg on Feb. 16 located two male juveniles in a stolen van and returned them to Jefferson City police.

Sgt. Ryan Limberg was responding to a careless driver report on State Highway 50 near State Highway 19 in Mount Sterling. Around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, just over the Osage County line, Limberg observed a Chrysler Town and Country van make several traffic violations.

“They were operating at varying speeds, failing to maintain a lane,” Limberg said. “When I activated my lights to do the traffic stop they almost ran off the road and crashed.”

Limberg said after he stopped the vehicle both boys lied about their names and he could tell they were nervous.

“I asked if it was their vehicle and they said no, they borrowed it, but didn’t know from who,” Limberg said.

Limberg was suspicious that neither the driver nor occupant could provide identification. He checked the names through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). One of the names resulted in a Soundex alert, meaning the information was close to that of someone law enforcement was currently seeking.

Limberg said he asked dispatch to request a photograph of the juvenile from the NCIC system. It confirmed that the juvenile was the same teen missing from a facility in Jefferson City. The second juvenile was from the same facility.

“I asked about the vehicle because it was registered out of Jefferson City and they said it was stolen,” Limberg said. “I met Jefferson City police at the Osage County Jail (to finish the transport back to the juvenile facility).”

The vehicle was towed by Triple L Towing in Owensville and the owner was notified.

“I didn’t charge them with anything since both were 16-years-old and going back to the juvenile facility anyways,” Limberg said.

Limberg said he is unaware of what charges the Jefferson City Police Department will recommend for the stolen vehicle.