Police: Car in lake was work of joyriding teens

A car recovered from Hayden Lake this morning was stolen by the owner’s 18-year-old son, police say. Richie L. Childers and a 17-year-old boy crashed the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier into Hayden Lake at Honeysuckle Beach during a joyride, then lied about what happened, said Coeur d’Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood. Wood did not immediately have details on how the crash occurred, including whether the teens were inside when the car hit the water or if alcohol was a factor. The car, owned by Shelley Childers, was reported stolen from 3572 N. 15th St. at 5:25 a.m., Wood said. Emergency responders responded shortly before 9 a.m. after City of Hayden employees working near the lake noticed the light-colored car under about five feet of water, nearly 75 feet from shore. Divers checked to ensure no one was inside. Wood said police were suspicious after talking to the teens. “I know they made up some outlandish story about how the door (to the home) had been kicked in and someone got the car keys and stole the car,” Wood said. “The story wasn’t adding up.” Richie Childers faces charges of false reporting, failure to purchase a license, operating a vehicle without the owners consent and malicious injury to property. The 17-year-old boy faces a charge of making a false report to police.