The Ministry of Public Security is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 16-year-old who escaped one week ago from the Juvenile Holding Centre, Sophia where he was being kept in custody.
The teen who has been identified as Leon Patterson escaped from the facility on August 9.
Reports revealed that Patterson was discovered missing between 12.00 and 13.00 hrs last Thursday, when his mother turned up at the facility to visit him during the permitted time.
The Ministry in a press statement issued yesterday said following the discovery, a search was immediately carried out on the premises and its surrounding areas but Patterson was nowhere to be seen.
It also said that security cameras were also reviewed which showed Patterson walking towards the admin building and he was later seen exiting through the back door.
“…After which security cameras were examined, which revealed that one juvenile was emptying garbage, while the escapee (Patterson) was seen walking towards the admin building unaccompanied and showed by another camera later exiting the admin building through the back door”, the statement noted.
The relevant authorities were informed and Commander of ‘A’ Division Marlon Chapman and accompanied by other officers of the Guyana Police Force visited the centre, the statement said.
A search was also conducted in Sophia by ranks attached to ‘A’ and ‘C’ divisions but Patterson was still not located.
The Ministry is therefore appealing to anyone who might have any information about Patterson’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
