Seven Residents Escape Echo Glen Facility
Update, 3:05 p.m.: Three youth have been apprehended.
Olympia, WA – Just after midnight this morning, seven residents escaped from the Echo Glen Children’s Center campus in Snoqualmie.
Youth assaulted a staff member working the night shift during routine checks, and stole her personal belongings, including the keys to her car. Echo Glen staff contacted law enforcement, provided information about the young people and the stolen vehicle, and issued warrants.
The campus was secured, and all other youth on the campus were accounted for.
DCYF has been working with law enforcement statewide in the ongoing investigation and search efforts. At this time, none of the youth have been apprehended. DCYF asks anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.
A Juvenile Rehabilitation Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), comprised of people from outside facility management will be conducting a thorough review of the incident.
Echo Glen has enhanced its safety protocols, will assess whether protocols were followed, and will assess the need for changes based on this incident alongside the CIRT.
DCYF sought and has received approximately $8 million in state funding in April to support necessary security upgrades for Echo Glen, including a perimeter fence. This is needed to serve the population that is now housed at Echo Glen. Security upgrades across the facility are being implemented. They include the perimeter fence as well as systems for logging necessary 15 minute cell checks.
The youth who escaped range in ages from 15-17 years old.
Echo Glen Children’s Center, a medium-maximum security facility, is home to DCYF’s youngest Juvenile Rehabilitation population up to the age of 17.
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Contact:
Jason Wettstein, Director of Communications | 360-464-0294 | jason.wettstein@dcyf.wa.gov
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