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| DJJ Questioned Over Escapee's Actions |
| 17-year-old Raymond Harrison remains behind
bars today -- charged with committing two armed robberies and a
carjacking in the four weeks since his escape from Department of
Juvenile Justice custody. Officials say he and another teen first escaped from DJJ's Broad River Road facility, back on October 23rd. But now nearly a month later he's back in custody at the Richland County Detention Center charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of car jacking. Though it's not unheard of for a 17-year-old offender to be accused of such serious crimes, there are serious questions why Harrison was not classified a danger to the community, when he escaped. "Once they do, we cannot predict their actions," says DJJ Spokesperson Loretta Neal. But that's exactly what D-J-J officials said nearly one month ago -- when Raymond Harrison was fingered for an armed robbery, following his October escape from the department's Broad River Road facility. Then, and now, after his capture at the Econo Lodge on Fort Jackson Boulevard, juvenile justice officials are being asked why Harrison wasn't classified as dangerous, when he first escaped. "Based on his commitment papers," says Neal. "What we have on file here at D-J-J is grand larceny [of a vehicle]." "Armed robbery and carjacking, yes these are serious crimes," says Columbia Police Spokesperson Skot Garrick. "And we're glad anytime we can effect the arrest of a person who commits these armed crimes." Since his escape, Columbia Police say Harrison had struck at least 3 times. The first, they say was just hours after his getaway. Investigators say he approached a woman -- in the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods on Bower Parkway. They say he demanded her purse and her car, then fled. Ten days later, on November 2nd, police say Harrison robbed another woman on Westminister Drive. Armed with a handgun, they say he again demanded the victim's car and valuables -- then left. Then yesterday, investigators say Harrison walked into the Oak Street Dollar General, wearing a ski mask. Officers say he demanded money at gunpoint, and fled on foot. When asked what it would take to be considered "dangerous" by the department, Neal replied, "A Sexual assault, murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature." Still police say Harrison's actions were violent enough. For now he remains where they say he should be, at the Richland County Detention Center -- until or unless -- a judge says otherwise. DJJ Spokesperson Loretta Neal says the department has been reviewing policy and procedures, but for now she says there are no plans to reevaluate the process under which a juvenile would be considered dangerous. There is no word yet on when Harrison's bond hearing will be set. |