The Columbia Police Department and officials from the Department of Juvenile Justice have arrested one of the three juveniles who escaped from DJJ custody Monday morning.
Police say 18-year-old Ja-Qwan Brewton was picked up at the Hot Spot on Farrow Road just after 9 p.m. Monday.
Police are still trying to locate 17-year-old Ritchie Rashawri Hicks and 18-year-old Daetron Diontrae Grant.
If you have any information about the whereabouts of these two individuals, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
CPD spokesperson Jennifer Timmons says the three handcuffed and shackled subjects were headed to an eye appointment in a DJJ van around 9:30 a.m.
Juvenile Justice officials say when two security transport officials were escorting the three out of the van to enter the doctor's office, the subjects were out of handcuffs and shackles and were spotted running toward Oak Street.
"We have a lot of elderly people who live in this area," said Barbara Johnson. "That's why it's so quite."
Barbara Johnson has lived in the area for years and she was one of many who noticed the search.
"It makes me nervous because I don't know what they in there for," Barbara added.
Investigators identified the trio as 17-year-old Ritchie Rashawri Hicks, 18-year-old Daetron Diontrae Grant, and 18-year-old Ja-Qwan Brewton.
Hicks was locked up for simple assault charges and a weapons charge of pointing a gun at a person, Grant was in for reckless driving and failure to stop for a blue light and Brewton was sent to DJJ for drug possession charges.
Despite being of legal age, DJJ says they are still considered to be juveniles in the system.
No one was injured in the incident and investigators are still trying to figure out how the three managed to get out of their restraints.
Officials say the three were wearing khaki shorts and green shirts.
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Ja-Qwan Brewton (Source: DJJ)
Daetron Diontrae Grant (Source: DJJ)
Ritchie Rashawri Hicks (Source: DJJ)
