A Salina teen was sent to the juvenile detention center in Junction City after he allegedly drove a car without permission and then swiped a tree.

According to Police Sergeant David Villanueva, officers took 17-year-old Justin T. Smith into custody on Sunday evening after he reportedly lost control of a 2002 Ford Fusion he was driving in the 600 block of Upper Mill Heights.

Smith told officers at the scene he swerved to miss a deer or dog in the road, lost control and hit a tree.

Police contacted the owner of the Ford and found out that Smith had no permission to drive the car that is valued at $8,000.

He is now facing charges associated with driving without a valid license, no proof of insurance and criminal deprivation of a vehicle.