The operation of a juvenile detention facility in the city of Madison is drawing attention after two teens who ran away from the facility were arrested Tuesday on murder charges.

The two teens, Jakobe Isaiah Carter, 18, of 1003 25th Ave., Phenix City, and Arron Raynard Jones, 17, of 2001 12th Ave. N., Birmingham, left the Sequel TSI facility, also known as Three Springs, on Browns Ferry Road Monday night. Madison Police officials believe they then assaulted and robbed a construction worker behind the Publix on County Line Road.

The victim, 61-year-old Van Johnson of Riverdale, Georgia, died from blunt force trauma to the head. Madison Police Chief David Jernigan said Carter and Jones stole Johnson’s wallet and cellphone.

After a manhunt early Tuesday, the teens were located in a wooded area near Three Springs and were taken into custody without incident. They were each charged with capital murder and second-degree burglary.

The city of Madison released a statement late Tuesday which said the city was saddened by the loss of life. The statement said the mayor’s office had also been working to address concerns raised about the facility by residents.

Three Springs is operated by Sequel TSI, which has a contract with the state to house juvenile offenders for the Department of Youth Services, which operates medium security facility. The state Department of Human Resources also have 10 beds for juveniles at the facility.

On Tuesday, city officials spoke to a Sequel TSI official about immediate security changes. Jernigan was to meet Wednesday with the director of Sequel TSI to discuss “concerns of the recent increase in reports from the facility.”

“Action items on their agenda for (Wednesday) include corporate staff on campus to do a complete review of the incident, holding team meetings with all the staff to discuss extra safety precautions and providing additional training regarding preventing truancies,” said the statement from the city.

Facility security

Carter and Jones were not housed in the DYS facility but were instead in the care of DHR. Youth under DHR care who leave Three Springs are reported as runaways and not escapees, as would be the case for those who flee DYS custody.

Concerned residents have asked why they weren’t notified when the teens left Three Springs. The city said because teens were runaways, the Madison Police Department has to wait 24 hours before notifying the public, as per policy.

“Although a public notification was not done per policy, all MPD first-shift officers were notified immediately and were actively on the lookout for the runaways,” the statement said.

The runaway incident was the fourth this year. One other escape incident has also been reported this year.

According to city officials, only one runaway incident occurred in 2013 and there was one in 2014. None were reported in 2015. There was one escapee report in 2016.

Another concern is some residents simply don’t want the facility in Madison. City officials have been asked what can be done to move it or if operating privileges could be revoked because of security concerns.

“Mayor Finley, Madison County Commissioner (Steve) Haraway and other city officials discussed the situation with State Senator (Bill) Holtzclaw today, and they will continue to bring their concerns about the facility to other state officials tomorrow,” the statement said. “The city is also actively investigating its available legal options as this situation evolves.”

Holzclaw posted a link to the city’s statement to his Twitter page Wednesday and said he would continue to “work this issue today at the state and local levels.”

He did not respond to a request for further comment prior to The News Courier’s Wednesday deadline.