Alaska State Troopers are charging two juveniles with vehicle theft and criminal mischief after they attempted to run away from a wilderness therapy program on Prince of Wales Island. Troopers say a 17-year-old from Idaho and a 14-year-old from Minnesota were attending the wilderness retreat Passages Alaska for troubled youths.
The program operates on northern Prince of Wales Island. The retreat’s website bills Passages as an “adventure therapy program dedicated to helping adolescents and young adults overcome challenges and work towards personal growth.”
Troopers say that in the middle of the night on May 11, the boys left the camp, canoeing to the tiny community of Naukati Bay in the dark. Around 3 a.m., they found an unlocked Ford SUV in a driveway with the keys in the ignition.
Troopers say that when the boys started the car, it woke up the owner and her boyfriend. The boyfriend grabbed a gun and chased after them in a separate car. When officers arrived, a high-speed chase ensued with the boys in the stolen SUV accelerating to 100 miles per hour. It only lasted about two miles before the boys surrendered to Prince of Wales Troopers.
The two teens were turned over to the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice in Craig before being released back to camp counselors. However, the 17-year-old escaped again and was allegedly seen running through the community of Craig.
Passages Alaska’s founder and clinical director Sean Tomkinson said in a voicemail that the 17-year-old has since been found and returned to the program. He said “Both young men are back and safe and things are settling well.”
Trooper spokespeople declined to comment further, citing that the case involves juveniles but Troopers did confirm that the young man is no longer missing.
The 17-year-old is being charged with 1st Degree Vehicle Theft and Reckless Driving, while the 14-year-old faces one count of Criminal Mischief. All charges are being handled by the Division of Juvenile Justice.
Get in touch with the author at jack@krbd.org.
