Escapes from the Westmoreland County juvenile detention center, known as the Outside In School, are becoming more frequent, raising concerns among local law enforcement. In the latest case, two teens fled the facility and were later caught after allegedly stealing a firearm. Ligonier Valley Police Chief Mike Matrunics noted that these two are among several juveniles who have recently escaped, reports WPXI.
According to CBS News Pittsburgh, this isn't an isolated problem, with Matrunics highlighting it's the second escape in just one week and actively expressing the community's frustration. "Last Tuesday morning, there were two runaways. They actually stole a truck from Wilpen," Matrunics related. The chief is pushing for a system that would alert residents in the event of future breakouts, emphasizing the importance for township safety—urging locals to lock doors, cars, and secure firearms.
The recent breakouts aren't the only troubles plaguing the Outside In School. An earlier riot at the facility in January involved 20 students and resulted in severe damages and the charging of several juveniles as adults. Matrunics admitted his limited influence over internal operations since the facility falls outside his jurisdiction, but emphasized that the aftermath of escapes typically spills into his domain, as escapees often head towards Ligonier’s populated areas.
