WALPOLE, MASS. (WHDH) - Late Wednesday night state and local police launched a search in an effort to locate three young boys that escaped from an educational treatment facility in Walpole, authorities said.
The boys, said to be between the ages of 11 and 13, ran away from the Home for Little Wanderers at Longview Farms around 11 p.m.
Police K9 units were brought in to help with the search efforts.
“They did a little bit of a diversion on the staff in one of the buildings,” said Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael. “In one of the dorms, they ran out one of the doors and fled on foot.”
Walpole police said the boys were able to get onto MBTA tracks.
Police believed they walked three to four miles away from Longview Farms to a 7-Eleven.
“They kind of hung out there for awhile,” said Carmichael. “One of our officers on patrol saw them inside of the store and he went and approached them and took them into custody and took them back here.”
The Home for Little Wanders released a statement on the incident:
“We applaud the diligence and quick action of the Walpole Police in locating and returning our three children. The Home for Little Wanderers plays a parental role to the children who live at our
Longview Farm school, and like any parent we took every action necessary to ensure their safety.
Longview Farm is fully staffed in accordance with state regulations. Our staff acted accordingly in this case and contacted public safety officials immediately.
The children who live with us at Longview Farm are sadly unable to live with their families of origin for various reasons. We are deeply grateful to the community of Walpole for its support.”
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