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Highlands Today

DJJ Juvenile Jumps From Van

CAPTURED NEAR THIRD STREET BOAT RAMP

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: Avon Park Police Officer Nathan Coogen meets up with Highlands County Sheriffs Deputy Luis Pratts and his K-9 partner Blue after searching for an escaped juvenile on the south side of Avon Park on Tuesday.

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: September 9, 2008

AVON PARK - Police and Highlands County Sheriff's Deputies teamed up Tuesday in the area of Lake Tulane, searching for a juvenile suspect who jumped out of a Department of Juvenile Justice van.

The youth was captured about four hours later, near the Third Street boat ramp on Lake Lotela, according to Avon Park Police Chief Matt Doughney.

"The end result is that he's going back to where he's from," Doughney said. "He could be facing an escape charge and anyone else who may have helped him avoid capture; we'll go ahead and charge them as well (with aiding)."

Teams of K-9 officers and their dogs searched the surrounding neighborhoods from East Cornell Street to Second Street, since 10:30 a.m., Doughney said,

The youth wore out two dogs in the process.

The search was called off briefly, until law enforcement received new information, Doughney said.

"We started a perimeter and flushed him out," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Doughney said the subject of the search was a 16-year-old white male who had been in the care of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

"Avon Park Police Cmdr. Mike Rowan added earlier that the youth was wearing tan shorts and a black tank-top.

Rowan said it was his understanding that the youth jumped from the van when it stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, while he was being transported to some type of facility. He was not wearing shackles, he added.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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