Charges recommended after juvenile’s escape

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers have completed their investigation about a juvenile’s escape March 30 from the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center in North Lawrence.

Investigators recommend additional charges against the 17-year-old Lawrence boy.

The search lasted for more than an hour until officers located the teen under a Kansas Turnpike bridge in North Lawrence. He had escaped from the detention center, 330 Industrial Lane, while school classes were being conducted there, but authorities have not disclosed any more specifics about how the escape occurred. It was the first escape from the center since it opened in 1995.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Lt. Kari Wempe said the report listed the offenses of aggravated escape; inflicting harm, injury or death to a police dog; resisting arrest and assault on a law enforcement officer.

Wempe said the teen is accused of striking a Kansas Highway Patrol dog with an object when officers located him. Officers used dogs and a helicopter during the search.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said Thursday afternoon that his office is reviewing the investigation and has not yet filed any charges related to the escape. The juvenile remains in custody at the center on charges related to another case.