Martin County - Tuesday January 24, 2023: The Martin County Sheriff's Office reports that the eight juveniles who escaped from the Sandy Pines Treatment Center over the weekend are all now back in custody.
According to a release from the Sheriff the juveniles are blamed for causing "a major disturbance" inside the detention center Saturday night. The Center is located at 11301 SE Tequesta Terrace in Jupiter.
The Sheriff reports that at least three people were injured, including one staff member, during what the Sheriff described as a "riot". Those who took part in riot broke windows, destroyed furniture and engaged in a large fight before a group of juveniles broke out of the facility, according to the Sheriff.
The facility was placed on lockdown, the Sheriff was called and a search for the escapes began. The juveniles were seen roaming the nearby neighborhood and by Sunday the Sheriff's office reported that all eight were back in custody.
A number of juveniles have been charged with various crimes, including battery on a health care worker and resisting arrest. They were transported to a juvenile detention center in Ft. Pierce.
The Sandy Pines Treatment Center riot occurred at the same time that a similar riot was reported Saturday by the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office at the Everglades Youth Academy in Okeechobee.