SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — State corrections officials and law enforcement are searching for two young males who reportedly escaped Friday night from Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.
The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) said in a news release the two boys escaped from the facility at about 7:30 p.m.
Long Creek is located right across the street from Liberty Commons apartments.
In response, the department has activated its Fugitive Investigation Apprehension Team and established a command post to coordinate efforts, according to the release.
MDOC officials are working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement to apprehend the two escapees.
Immediately after the two boys escaped, South Portland police responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery with the threat of a firearm at a parking lot at 10 Liberty Lane, the release stated.
Officials said no weapon was sighted, but the two individuals reportedly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.
Donna Swiderek told NEWS CENTER Maine she had been borrowing her ex-husband's car, a white Honda Civic hatchback. Swiderek said she was leaving the parking lot around 7 p.m. when two young men approached her.
She said the two individuals opened the car door and told her they had a gun and would shoot her. Then, she said one of them pulled her out of the car and threw her to the ground, before both of them got in the car and took off.
Swiderek said South Portland police told her the car was stolen by two juveniles who had escaped from the facility.
"The two male youths fled in the stolen vehicle, a white Honda Civic with Maine Barbara Bush license plate #401BBK," MDOC said.
South Portland police have issued temporary warrants for robbery, theft, and assault. MDOC said police have also entered the vehicle information and the identities of the two individuals into New England and national databases to alert other law enforcement to "stop and hold the suspects if located."
The identities of the two boys cannot be released due to confidentiality laws, according to the release.
MDOC stated the two escapees were last seen at about 10:30 p.m. Friday in Biddeford.
"The Maine Department of Corrections and South Portland Police Department are advising anyone who believes they have seen the vehicle or the youths to report the sighting immediately by calling 911 and not to approach or engage them," the release stated.
MDOC said it is launching a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape.