A quiet day on County Road 44 North turned into a full-scale emergency after a 14-year-old runaway from a local children’s facility allegedly walked into a stranger’s home, prompting the homeowner to arm himself and call police.
It happened when the resident exited his bedroom and spotted a larger-built teen with dark hair standing near the kitchen door inside his house. That teen was later identified as C.N., a juvenile under the care of Lorain County and currently placed at a NECCO youth facility in the area.
The homeowner said the doors to his home are always kept shut, meaning the teen must have opened the exterior door and entered without permission. Concerned for his family’s safety, the man grabbed his firearm and followed the teen, who had already fled by the time he reached the door.
Outside, the man saw several NECCO staff members already restraining C.N., who had clearly wandered far off facility grounds during an unauthorized escape.
🚨 NOT THE FIRST TIME
The homeowner told deputies this was far from the first incident involving youth from the facility. Over the years, he claims kids have:
- Entered his vehicles
- Trespassed on his land
- And now, entered his home
His mother, who lives next door, confirmed the story. She said she saw four juveniles sprinting across her yard, one of whom—wearing a black shirt—looked confused and darted into her son’s home. She said her yard is clearly posted with No Trespassing signs and now wants charges filed as well.
👮 MASSIVE RESPONSE LAUNCHED
As deputies handled the initial incident, more juveniles were still on the run from the NECCO facility. That led to a coordinated effort involving:
- Local fire departments
- Drones
- ATVs
- Multiple law enforcement agencies
- The Lawrence County Search and Rescue Team
NECCO staff were posted at key locations including the entrance to the property and surrounding areas near Vesuvius Lake in an attempt to corral the fleeing kids.
👨⚖️ CHARGES FILED
The 14-year-old male was taken into custody for burglary and transported to the Lawrence County Juvenile Detention Center, where he remains pending a court hearing.
Authorities notified the boy’s grandmother, aunt, and legal guardian. Other teens involved were identified as being from Marion County and Licking County, with their respective CPS and JFS agencies contacted regarding the incident.
