8 Teens Charged After Staffers Assaulted At Juvenile Detention Facility
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Eight teenagers have been charged in connection with a disturbance at a juvenile detention facility in western Maryland in which eight staffers were assaulted by inmates.
Three of the suspects, 19-year-old Diego Glay, 17-year-old Daniel Ennos, and 17-year-old Bernard Moore, have been charged as adults.
Glay faces charges of first-degree escape, second-degree assault, riot, malicious destruction of property under $1,000, and theft under $100.
While Ennos and Moore have both been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, first-degree escape, riot, malicious destruction of property under $1,000, and theft under $100.
The five other suspects were charged as juveniles, and they all face charges of riot, second-degree assault, first-degree escape, malicious destruction of property under $1,000, and theft under $100.
Further charges may be filed.
All eight suspects remain in Maryland Department of Juvenile Services custody.
The disturbance started just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday, when Maryland State Police troopers and local sheriff's deputies were called to the Victor Cullen Center in Frederick County about a disturbance.
Police established a perimeter, and a Frederick County deputy trained as a negotiator spoke via radio with the juveniles thought to be leading the disturbance.
Officials said seven juveniles subsequently surrendered, and then troopers and deputies entered the facility and took an eighth juvenile into custody without incident.
Three staff members at the center were taken to area hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, state police said. Five others were apparently injured but refused treatment.
The investigation shows the disturbance began after two juveniles starting fighting. This led other juveniles to assault staff members, which led them to take keys and radios from the staff members.
The juveniles were able to access other areas of the facility, but none of them escaped the center.
"It's troubling that we have employees in the state of Maryland that are going to work and getting beaten up," said Patrick Moran of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Moran says the center is understaffed with inmates outnumbering the guards who work long and sometimes illegal hours.
"Now, we have someone with a face fracture, we have someone with a broken jaw, we have another whole group of people, I believe even the superintendent was assaulted, that's not acceptable," he added.
Police say the juveniles also kicked out a window, kicked in an office trailer door, and broke a trailer window, before stealing candy from the trailer they broke into.
"This is a serious issue, especially when you have the safety of staff at these facilities in jeopardy," Greg Shipley of the Maryland State Police said.
The Department of Juvenile Services released the following statement:
The Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) extends its gratitude and admiration for the Victor Cullen Center staff who intervened during the group disturbance that occurred on April 8, 2018. Several staff courageously risked injury to help protect other youth and staff from harm. While most of the injuries suffered by staff were treated at the facility, 3 Victor Cullen staff required hospitalization. DJS is thankful to report that all 3 staff have been treated and released.
DJS would also like to thank the Maryland State Police and the Frederick County Sherriff's Office for responding and assisting the Victor Cullen Center staff during the incident. As always, the department appreciates the support from its law enforcement partners.
The 8 youth involved in the incident have been transferred to other secure facilities.
Counselors from DJS headquarters and DJS executive staff are at the Victor Cullen Center to support the staff and youth and help the facility move forward. Secretary Sam Abed has directed that new admissions to the Victor Cullen Center be suspended. The department's investigation is ongoing.
DJS remains committed to provide all of the necessary support and services that the Victor Cullen Center needs to ensure it is safe for both youth and staff.
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