SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR YOUTH WHO LEFT JUVENILE FACILITY

(Cumberland, MD) – State and local police are searching for a teenager who left a state juvenile facility in Western Maryland Sunday night.

The escaped youth is identified as Edwin R. Cortez, 16, who was in the custody of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. He was housed at the Green Ridge Youth Center in Flintstone, Md.

Cortez is described as a Hispanic male, 5’9” tall, weighing 143 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His left ear is pierced and he has a tattoo on his left hand between his thumb and first finger. When he escaped, he was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He may have had a change of clothes with him that included a pair of khaki pants.

Cortez may be driving a white 2001 Toyota Corolla with Maryland registration 6CLE82. This vehicle was reported stolen Sunday night from a Flintstone residence not far from the facility.

At about 8:30 p.m. on July 4, 2010, Maryland State Police at the Cumberland Barracks were notified by youth center staff that Cortez had just left and was last seen heading north toward I-68. Troopers responded to the area and joined in a search already underway by facility staff.

The search was extended throughout the region. Troopers from the Cumberland Barracks and the State Police K-9 Unit were joined by law enforcement personnel from the Allegany County Bureau of Police and Natural Resources Police. A State Police helicopter also conducted an aerial search. A lookout for Cortez was provided to police throughout the state and surrounding area.

The Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team is coordinating the continuing search. Cortez may be en route to the Montgomery County area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police.