CRIME

Teen who scaled barbed-wire fence at Canton Township detention center remains on the lam

Amy L. Knapp
The Independent
  • A 17-year-old scaled a barbed-wire fence at the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center on Monday and fled.
  • Law enforcement is asking anyone with information about the youth to call the Sheriff's Office.
  • A second teen was injured when he attempted to scale the fence. He was treated at a local hospital.

CANTON TWP. ‒ Authorities are continuing to search for a 17-year-old who escaped custody Monday from the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System.

According to agency Director James McKenzie, the teen and another youth scaled a barbed-wire fence around the site. The second teen, he said, was unable to get over the fence and was "cut pretty bad."

He was treated at a local hospital before he was returned to the detention center, McKenzie said.

Stark County Sheriff George Maier said his office was made aware of the escape just before 2 p.m. Monday. The Stark Attention Center, at 815 Faircrest St. SW, is a 30-bed facility that serves male incarcerated youths under the age of 19, according to Multi-County's website.

The Canton teen was in the facility on an assault charge, Maier said. Other law enforcement agencies, including Canton police, were made aware of the escape, he added.

The teen is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds.

The sheriff is asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of the youth to contact the Sheriff's Office at 330-430-3800.