ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 6, 1990                   TAG: 9005060244
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C7   EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA                                LENGTH: Short


POLICE PROBE YOUTH'S ESCAPE

Police on Saturday were investigating the escape of four juveniles, two of whom were later recaptured, from the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home.

The youths escaped through the front door of the facility Friday about 7:40 p.m. after they punched the guard assigned to watch them in the face, police said.

Authorities said the three 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old may have planned the escape from the South Whiting Street facility.

Two of the juveniles were captured at 12:19 a.m., the police department said. The two returned to custody have been charged with felony escape, authorities said.

Warrants have been issued for the two who remain missing. One was placed in the facility after being charged with distribution of cocaine. The other was charged with forgery, officials said.

A supervisor at the facility said the escape occurred during the letter-writing and TV-watching period. The on-duty supervisor left the room to get an envelope for one of the juveniles, and when he returned he was hit in the face.

The youths then burst through the front door to freedom.



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