Jetson escapees lead police on chase

Two Jetson Center for Youth escapees led authorities on a high-speed chase for more than two hours late Friday night, a spokeswoman said.

The chase started about 9:30 p.m. when Jetson Director Daron Brown alerted assisting law enforcement agencies that he was chasing the escapees down Airline Highway toward Glen Oaks. The chase continued down Interstate 10 toward New Orleans at speeds in excess of 90 mph, said Jerel Giarrusso, spokeswoman for the Office of Juvenile Justice.

At 11:30 p.m., the escapees were still eluding police.

The escapees are Demonte Washington, 15, and Clarence McWilliams, 18, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said. Both are from Baton Rouge and considered dangerous, she said.

Washington, convicted on a charge of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and 162 pounds. McWilliams, convicted on charges of simple burglary and carjacking, is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds.

Jetson officials last saw the pair on the facility’s campus at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Giarrusso said.

The escapees were later spotted on Glynn Road near Old Rafe Mayer Road at 10:27 p.m. Tuesday, she said.

Giarusso said late Friday officials still do not know how the pair escaped the secure facility.

“The investigation is ongoing and will continue until we get to the bottom of this,” she said.