A 14-year-old who escaped from the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center is back behind bars after a brief run that included stealing a landscaper’s vehicle.
Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said the juvenile, whose name was not being released as of Friday morning, broke out of the Pelahatchie detention center during recreational time on Thursday around 3 p.m. Bailey received reports from detention officers that a group of teenage inmates was playing basketball when one of them took advantage of a chance to escape.
“During the activity, the ball rolled near the perimeter fence and the suspect ran toward it,” a press release noted. “Once near the 16-foot security fence, the suspect began climbing. A detention officer immediately responded and grabbed the suspect while he was on the fence. The officer attempted to pull the suspect back down, but the suspect broke free and climbed over the top of the fence before fleeing into a wooded area.”
Several area and state law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and conducted an aerial and ground search, setting up checkpoints throughout the area.
At approximately 11 p.m., a woman who lives on Banks Street in Pelahatchie dialed 911 and reported the escapee stealing her husband’s pickup truck. She saw him travel west on Highway 80 toward Brandon. Rankin County deputies quickly located the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the suspect led them on a 20-minute chase along several county roads.
As the pursuit neared Brandon, the Brandon Police Department deployed stop sticks that forced the suspect to turn on a dead-end Mount Ridge Road. Deputies were able to box in the vehicle and apprehend the suspect before he could flee again.
Unfortunately for the truck owner, the stolen vehicle “sustained heavy damage during the incident.”
“The victim, who operates a small landscaping business, relies on the vehicle for his livelihood, and the damage will have a direct impact on his business operations,” the release noted.
The suspect sustained injuries during the escape and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Upon being discharged, he was returned to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center.
The suspect was originally being held on charges of auto theft and auto burglary but will face additional charges connected with the escape. He was scheduled to appear in front of a youth court judge on Friday.
“We hope the quick recapture of this escapee provides peace of mind to our citizens,” Bailey said. “We give praise to God for protecting our citizens, our officers, and the suspect during yesterday’s incident.”
