All 9 teens caught, after they escaped from a Pennsylvania juvenile detention center
Pennsylvania Juvenile Detention Center Escape: UPDATE
All nine teenagers who managed to escape from a juvenile detention center in Pennsylvania after a riot at the facility on Sunday evening have all been apprehended, according to a statement from a state police official on Monday morning.
David Beohm, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police troop in Reading, revealed earlier on Monday that four of the nine teens were located about 2.5 miles away from Abraxas Academy in Morgantown.
The juvenile facility is situated approximately 15 miles west of South Coventry Township, where the escaped murder convict, Danilo Cavalcante, was successfully captured last Wednesday after being on the run for nearly two weeks.
“We’re urging the people in this area, just like we did two weeks ago, to secure everything, take your keys out of your cars, and remain vigilant,” Beohm emphasized as the search continued throughout the night.
Local and state law enforcement agencies swiftly responded to the situation at Abraxas Academy and managed to regain control of the juvenile detention center, as reported by the Caernarvon Township Police Department.
All the teens who managed to escape are between the ages of 15 to 17, according to officials. Authorities had initially treated the situation as if the teens were armed, and they had advised the public to exercise caution accordingly.
Due to the ongoing situation, the nearby Twin Valley School District decided to remain closed on Monday, citing an “abundance of caution.”
Beohm shed light on how the teens executed their escape, stating that they overpowered two prison employees, gaining access to keys and subsequently making their way out through a side door or one of the facility’s exits. It’s likely that they breached the facility’s fence by going underneath it.
Around midnight to 1 a.m., the escapees made an unsuccessful attempt to break into a car, according to Beohm. He mentioned that it’s unclear how far this car break-in attempt occurred in relation to the facility. The homeowners were alerted, the car’s window was broken, and lights came on, prompting the escapees to flee.
Beohm also mentioned that multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the search for the escaped teenagers and established a perimeter around the facility. While poor weather conditions prevented the use of helicopters in the search overnight, authorities utilized drones in the area on Monday.
Abraxas Academy, as described on its website, is a “secure residential treatment program” that offers specialized care for delinquent male youth aged 14 to 18 in the 9th grade or above. The facility caters to youth with a history of serious charges, problematic behaviors, and consistent delinquent patterns. These youths are admitted to the Academy for either habitual offending behaviors or a history of sexual offending behavior.
Reporter has reached out to Abraxas Academy and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office for comment on the situation, but there has been no response at this time.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
