The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office released intense bodycam footage Thursday showing deputies capturing four juveniles who escaped from a detention facility in Hastings on Monday.
The video shows K-9 officer Bane leading deputies through thick vegetation to two abandoned cars about two miles from Deep Creek Academy. Both vehicles had dark tinted windows, making it difficult to see inside.
Tense Moments Before the Arrest
Bane quickly focused on one of the vehicles. A deputy ordered his team to aim their weapons at the car and avoid crossfire.
An officer then opened the front passenger door, revealing one of the escapees. The police dog bit the screaming teen as he crawled to the ground. Deputies quickly handcuffed him, and the dog released its grip.
Another officer broke the rear passenger window, and the remaining three juveniles were pulled from the vehicle, placed on the ground, and handcuffed.
How the Escape Happened
Authorities later provided details on how the juveniles broke out of Deep Creek Academy.
According to the sheriff’s office, two of the escapees attacked a guard using a sock filled with a showerhead and a homemade weapon. They then choked him until he was unconscious. Three other inmates attempted to escape, but one was caught before leaving the property.
Criminal History and New Charges
The sheriff’s office also shared the prior offenses that led the teens to be held at the facility. Their charges included:
- Possession of a gun at school
- Battery on a school employee
- Battery on a law enforcement officer
- Armed burglary
- Grand theft auto
- Battery with a deadly weapon
Now, they face additional charges, including:
- Battery with a deadly weapon
- False imprisonment
- Battery by strangulation
- Escape from a commitment facility
Sheriff’s Response
Sheriff Robert Hardwick praised the officers involved in the capture.
“This was a first-class operation to protect our citizens, and I’m proud to be their sheriff,” Hardwick said.
He added that the facility will review the escape to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The message is clear: we will not tolerate this in our community, and we will respond in force to protect our citizens,” he said. “These inmates picked the wrong county.”