'Dangerous' youth escapes custody while at Red Pheasant First Nation

A youth considered "dangerous" has escaped custody while attending a family funeral on the Red Pheasant First Nation south of North Battleford, Sask., according to corrections officials.

Officials saidthat shortly after noon onThursday, the youth who was being held atthe NorthBattleford Youth Centreescaped lawful custody from corrections staff while on escorted leave.

They said the local detachment of the RCMP was immediately alerted about the escape.

Do not approach

Officials saidthe youth, a male, "is considered dangerous and should not be approached."

His age was not released.

"That youth was able to escape lawful custody from the two youth workers that were escorting him," Drew Wilby, a spokesman for the corrections ministry, said. "That youth fled into the community."

Wilby said the youth was in custody in nearby North Battleford facing what he described as "serious" charges including "some violent offences".

"The only way to release [identifying] information is through a court order," Wilby said, when pressed for details on the youth.

More information released

The province won permission from the court to release his name and photograph on Thursday.

"He has past history of being violent," Wilby added, noting that people should report any suspicious activity by contacting police or calling 911.

"We know that he's from the area but one can only guess where he's gone," Wilby said.

Wilby said an investigation will also be done to determine how the youth escaped.

Youth was under escort

The youth had been under secure custody in North Battleford. Wilby said youth in the facility are essentially locked in and may not come and go as in an open-custody situation.

Wilby said there are circumstances where a youth in secure custody may be allowed an escorted leave to attend what he described as a "significant" family event, such as a funeral.

"They are under escort," he said, and under restrictions. Wilby said the ministry investigation will determine if procedures were followed in this case.

"If there are areas that we can strengthen, we'll look to do so," he said.

A previous version of thisstory provided a photograph and more detail about the young offender who escaped, but now that he has been found CBC has removed that information to comply with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.