By Rene Romo
Albuquerque Journal
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Police were searching Wednesday evening for two teenage males who escaped from the J. Paul Taylor Center, a state-run juvenile detention facility, after overpowering a female guard and using her keys to let themselves out. The youths, identified as 18-year-old Jesus M. Loera and 16-year-old Joshua Hernandez, allegedly overpowered an officer at 11:58 p.m. Tuesday, tied her up and took her keys to make their escape, State Police said.
After leaving through a cafeteria, the pair climbed a fence and fled.
Border Patrol tracking dogs followed a scent trail to a nearby frontage road along Interstate 10, then lost the trail, said State Police spokesman Sgt. Tim Johnson. The U.S. Marshals Service is also involved in the search.
Johnson said State Police were looking into a report that a dark-colored vehicle was parked in the area around the time of the escape. It’s not known whether the boys were picked up, Johnson said.
The state Children, Youth and Families Department, which operates the detention center west of Las Cruces, is also investigating the escape to determine whether proper procedures were followed.
“Anyone involved in this incident who did not follow department policies and procedures will be held accountable, including senior managers,” said CYFD spokesman Enrique Knell.
Johnson said the two youths asked to use a restroom before they were let out of a secure area and overpowered the officer.
“For some reason, it was allowed,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the officer was treated for injuries but added that “she’s going to be fine.”
Both youths are 5 feet, 8 inches tall. Loera has a tattoo of the word “Pelon” on his right arm, a “P” on his left arm and “WS” on his left leg.
Loera, an Anthony resident who had been arrested in a February burglary case, was committed to the detention center in early March and was to remain there until March 2013, Johnson said.
Hernandez, from Mesquite, was arrested in February 2010 in a motor vehicle theft case and again in October for violating terms of his probation, according to records obtained by the Journal. He was committed to J. Paul Taylor Center for a one-year period to end Oct. 14, Johnson said.
Copyright 2011 Albuquerque Journal