Officers on hunt for youth offenders
By Gary Popp
Published in News on May 23, 2012 1:46 PM
EDITOR'S NOTE: State law prohibits release of a juvenile offender's full name, age or crime.
One of two juveniles who escaped from the Lenoir Youth Development Center in Kinston while on a home visit to Goldsboro this past weekend remains on the run after not returning to the Dobbs Farm Road facility.
The first juvenile, DaShawn K., was captured Tuesday.
The second juvenile, SirCalvin J., remains a target of area law enforcement officials.
Spokesman for the N.C. Division of Juvenile Justice William Lassiter said authorities believe SirCalvin J. will remain in the Goldsboro area.
"The last spotting was from yesterday," Lassiter said. "We thought we had him cornered in one neighborhood, but did not end up catching him."
State officials are not permitted to provide the ages or addresses of the juveniles, but it was previously released that SirCalvin J. was seen at 2606 Beston Road Saturday.
"He is an absconder of the law, and we are absolutely trying to get him apprehended," Lassiter said.
According to the Division of Juvenile Justice, because of the unpredictability of a juvenile's behavior during an escape, there is a high degree of concern for the safety of both the juvenile and the public.
Lassiter said the parents of each of the juveniles alerted officials that their children were escaping custody.
"Their parents called us and told us that they ran," Lassiter said. "Their parents have been cooperating."
He said each of the juveniles was at his home at some point during the weekend.
Lassiter said the Division of Juvenile Justice has requested the assistance of area law enforcement agencies to locate the escapees.
"We are working heavily with the Goldsboro PD," he said.
Lassiter said each of the juveniles was taking his first of two home visits provided to individuals who have been at the facility for six months.
He said the home visits are designed to help the youths adapt to their impending releases.
Lassiter said the juveniles were due back at the youth development center from their weekend visits at 4 p.m. Sunday. Their statuses were elevated to escapees at 4:15 p.m.
Anyone with information should call their local law enforcement agency.