DEPUTIES ARREST 15-YEAR-OLD AFTER PALMDALE CAR CHASE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A 15-year-old boy who took his baby sitter's car for a joy ride early Sunday morning was arrested after he nearly hit two patrol cars and led deputies on a short pursuit, sheriff's officials said.

The boy, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was spotted by deputies at 1:30 a.m. near Avenue R and Division Street driving with his lights off and failing to stop for a posted sign.

``He was swerving all over the roadway,'' said Sgt. David Sauer. ``He nearly hit deputies conducting a traffic stop.''

Believing the motorist was drunk, deputies gave chase while the boy drove recklessly at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, officials said.

Because of the dangerous conditions, deputies who had been following him for about two miles stopped the pursuit.

The boy then met up with another patrol car at Tierra Subida Avenue and Avenue S and swerved into and out of its traffic lane.

``The officers thought that he was actually going to hit them,'' Sauer said. ``The boy's car then spun out, lost control and stalled in the middle of the street.''

When deputies asked the boy if he was drunk, the boy replied, ``No, I just don't know how to drive,'' Sauer said.

The boy told deputies that the car belonged to a family friend who was baby-sitting while his parents were out of town. ``He said he took the vehicle when the baby sitter went to sleep,'' Sauer said.

Sauer said the boy told deputies he was joy riding, ``so we gave him a joy ride to Sylmar Juvenile Hall.''

The youngster, who was on probation already, was transported to the juvenile justice facility, where he is being held without bail on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, evading a peace officer with willful or wanton disregard for a person's property and being an unlicensed driver.