CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Two juveniles who were being taken to the Cabarrus Juvenile Detention Center escaped from custody, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced on Thursday. Later in the evening, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the pair were caught in the city.
The juveniles escaped shortly after 1 p.m. on Schoolhouse Road in Harrisburg, officials said. Both juveniles escaped after a court hearing in Cabarrus County. The Division of Juvenile Justice notified Cabarrus County law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation.
Officials said there was a "high degree" of concern for the safety of the juveniles and the public due to their histories of unpredictable behavior. One of them had a prior history that included stealing a vehicle and assault.
CMPD said around 6:50 p.m. they were able to catch the pair after a short chase when they crashed into a patrol car. The scene in Charlotte unfolded along Brookshire Boulevard near Beatties Ford Road.
NOTE: The Division of Juvenile Justice had expressed a concern for public safety and for the juveniles' safety. It was vital to the story to show the picture so that the public knew who they were looking for. The photos previously used in this story were released by the Department of Public Safety.
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