UPDATE: As of 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday April 28, a fifth youth has been caught after an escape from Bridge City Center for Youth.
This morning, six juveniles escaped. Four were caught in Acadiana before noon; the fifth was caught in Jefferson Parish, officials say.
The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice says that the six youths escaped the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish.
Three were arrested in Lafayette Parish with a fourth apprehended in Kaplan. Police say the suspect allegedly stole a construction truck after escaping police custody.
The four juveniles were arrested with the assistance of Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Abbeville Police Department, Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police.
Two Lafayette Parish schools were on lock down Wednesday morning. LPSS confirmed that Lafayette High and S.J. Montgomery were placed on soft lock down due to police activity in the area.
The remaining escapee is a 17-year old from Jefferson Parish.
About the Escape
The OJJ says that one center staff member was injured during the incident which occurred at 12:00 am on April, 28 at the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish.
That staff member was treated at a local hospital for injuries.
Following the incident, OJJ says they immediately ceased all movement at the facility and began making official notifications to law enforcement about the six escaped juveniles.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Levee District Police and State Police assisted on the scene and in the pending efforts to apprehend the escapees.
The Office of Juvenile Justice did not say where the two remaining escaped teens are believed to be at this time.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the one remaining escaped juvenile is asked to contact local law enforcement or the command center at 225-328-0334 or 225-328-8402.
Due to the confidential nature of juvenile records, OJJ says they cannot release information on the youth to the media.
OJJ serves youth who have been adjudicated delinquent or Families in Need of Services (FINS). The agency is responsible for youth assigned to its care and custody by the court system, either for probation supervision, or custody in residential placement or secure care.
