Concerns over juvenile detention center after teen escapes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — How did a teenager convicted of murder escape from the Bernalillo County Youth Detention Center last weekend?

Josef Toney, 19, was on the run for 12 hours before surrendering. Today we are receiving responses from a county leader who says this was a series of failures on many levels, at a facility under lockdown. a lot of control recently.

“He was able to pick the lock, get out, then walk to the roof of the establishment, then get out,” said Greg Perez, Bernalillo County deputy chief of public safety.

It wasn't until three hours later that staff noticed Toney was missing.

“Certain things that happened in the individual's holding cell led us to believe that he was still there, perhaps asleep,” Perez said. “It’s still our fault for not having done a complete wake-up, for not having asked everyone to stand up, for not coming out of their cells to do a real physical count.”

Toney, who was convicted of murdering two people in 2016, was on the run for 12 hours before surrendering.

Perez said center staff called 911 after discovering Toney was missing. Albuquerque police responded, but there was confusion.

Perez said the officer thought he was investigating a missing person, not a killer on the loose.

“My understanding is that they sent an officer there and a missing person's report was filed, that's what I was told, and that was kind of the end of it,” he said. Perez said.

This miscommunication is under investigation and Perez says changes are happening at YSC.

“Going back and reviewing all of our policies and procedures, doing unit reviews with each of the staff members,” Perez said.

They also plan to upgrade the facilities. Perez says they will bring in a security analysis expert next week to identify what needs to be updated.

He also says recruitment remains a challenge, with a shortage of more than 20 youth program officers. They have hired nearly 50 since December. Two of them are on administrative leave following their escape.

Perez says that even though they have all completed their six weeks of training, they still lack experience.

“The key to a good YPO at any establishment is attention to detail, and sometimes that can’t be taught,” Perez said.

Perez says efforts to hire more people include a manager for the facility. He expects the position to be filled by the end of June. It has been open since September.

KOB 4 spoke to Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen after the escape. He's previously discussed issues with the facility, but he's also pushing for changes to our state's children's code.

A spokesperson for our governor suggests that won't happen until next year's 60-day session. Allen also wants people detained at YSC to be incarcerated in the Bernalillo County Jail once they turn 18.

There will soon be a new Bernalillo County manager to oversee what happens at YSC.

Commissioners KOB 4 spoke with Wednesday agreed the center needs to be front and center in the hiring process.

“It’s a big concern to me,” said District 3 Commissioner Adriann Barboa.

“It’s a difficult environment for any leader right now,” said District 4 Commissioner Walt Benson.

Although Perez says the facility is still short more than 20 positions, there appears to be some confusion among county leaders about the actual staffing situation at the center.

“Now we are at full staffing capacity, which was the most important thing,” Barboa said.

Lack of funding is another concern, but commissioners said Wednesday the center has all the funding it needs. They said there has been a lot of positive progress since the incident last Christmas, when teenagers barricaded themselves inside the center, vandalized it and clashed with deputies.

Despite everything, many people fear new incidents.

“It’s a powder keg where a single spark can set off a big explosion, and really, that’s where we are,” Benson said.