JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four of seven juveniles on the run from Duval Academy, a non-secure residential treatment program for 14- to 18-year-old males facing non-violent criminal charges, have been caught.
Three others who ran from the Westside detention facility are still on the loose, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
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The DJJ was notified early Monday morning that five non-violent youth offenders had run away from Duval Academy. Two others had already run from the facility, leaving from the recreational field of the facility on Friday.
Law enforcement officials were immediately contacted and officers reported to the facility and were working to locate the seven juveniles. A day after they announced the missing juveniles, the DJJ released their names but did not indicate which had been caught. The juveniles are Tristen Belanger of Santa Rosa County, James Mobbs of Bay County, Landon Hood of Clay County, D'Wann Watkins of Orange County, Logan Murphy of Walton County, Cole Drake of Orange County and Anthony Bays of Duval County.
The 28-bed facility at 7500 Ricker Road, on the Westside, is operated by a private contractor, Youth Services International. About 20 juveniles remain in the program.
Admissions to Duval Academy have been frozen and DJJ staff working with Youth Services International on an immediate corrective action plan.
The DJJ said the incidents are still under investigation. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to file any additional charges against the runaways.