Five teens escaped Los Prietos Boys Camp Sunday afternoon but were quickly captured after they scaled a nearby hill in Santa Barbara’s backcountry.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., said Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover, a staff member at Los Prietos Boys Camp — a minimum security facility for juvenile males on probation — called 9-1-1 to report the escape. Sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol officers, and Santa Barbara County Probation officers responded.
The teens had climbed a hill near the rural camp in their attempt to evade authorities. One of them was located 30 minutes later and, after coming back down the hill, surrendered to probation staff, said Hoover.
A helicopter and K-9 unit were called in to locate the other four. At around 5:15 p.m., they were located and detained in the vicinity of Aliso Trail at Sage Hill Campground. The group was then transported to Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall in Santa Maria.