Bend police catch five teen runaways, three after chase

Bend police, acting on a tip, found and arrested five runaway juveniles Thursday — but not before three of them ran once again, sparking a chase on foot and by drone until the fence-jumping teens were caught a short time later.

Police received a tip from a community member Thursday about the possible location of the five 16- and 17-year-old boys who had run away from the J-5 Parole and Probation Revocation Program on Britta Street, Lt. Brian Beekman said.

Officers found the five teens shortly before 1 p.m. in the area of Southeast Third Street and McKinley Avenue, Beekman said.

Two of the boys, 16 and 17, complied and were taken into custody without incident, the sergeant said. But the other three, one 16 and two 17, ran away, two together and one alone.

The two who fled together were located about eight minutes later in the area of Southeast Centennial and Wilson avenues after residents alerted police to teens hopping fences in the area. They were captured shortly after 1 p.m. in the area of Sixth Street and Wilson Avenue.

The other teen who fled was found at Kiwanis Park around 1:30 p.m., but led officers on a chase on foot to the east, jumping the fences of businesses. He was caught at the corner of Business Way and Wilson Avenue.

Bend police used a drone to help in the chase of the three juveniles who fled when officers contacted them.

All five teens were taken to Deschutes County Juvenile Detention. The two who didn’t run from police were cited for being minors in possession of alcohol. The other three face charges of third-degree escape, second-degree criminal trespass and interfering with a police officer. One 17-year-old also is charged in an outstanding warrant.

Beekman said Bend police want to thank Oregon State Police for their help on the call.