Seven juvenile males will appear in Mower County Third Judicial District Court today on multiple charges stemming from their escape early Wednesday from the Austin Ranch School.

Thursday, March 08, 2001

Seven juvenile males will appear in Mower County Third Judicial District Court today on multiple charges stemming from their escape early Wednesday from the Austin Ranch School.

The seven youths from St. Paul, Bigelow and other communities out of the area were staying at the Minnesota Sheriff’s Youth Program facility.

They overpowered SYP staff member Dennis Sumner, 51 of Adams, early Wednesday morning, tied him up and locked him in a basement closet of a housing unit.

Taking Sumner’s money and pickup truck keys, they left the Austin Ranch School grounds along Mower County No. 29 at the south edge of Austin and drove to Rochester along Interstate 90.

Ninety minutes after their escape and authorities were alerted, they were recaptured by Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department Rochester Police Department and Minnesota State Patrol officers.

The boys were held in the Many Rivers Detention Center at Rochester until being returned to the Austin – Mower County Law Enforcement Center today for their court appearance. They face charges of escape, flee police officer, theft and assault, according to law enforcement authorities.

The youths range in age from 14 to 17.

Sumner is recovering from wounds suffered when he was struck in the face by a flashlight.

Man, woman arrested

A large number of people coming and going from a room at the Days Inn Motel late Wednesday attracted attention and the arrest of a man and a woman.

Austin Police Department and Mower County Sheriff’s Department officers, plus MCSD canine unit, Cleo, were called to the Days Inn Motel at 11:28 p.m. Wednesday.

The large number of people coming and going from Room 222 caused suspicion about the activities in the room, according to a police report.

Chevy Lee Chris Brown, 18 of Austin and Rebecca Charlson, 24 of rural Austin, were taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana.

Baggies, cigarette papers and 2.5 grams of a substance that tested positive for marijuana were seized.