Juveniles leave roof at Georgia facility

AMERICUS, Ga. — Officials said the last of at least 20 juveniles held in a southwest Georgia facility have come down after breaking onto a roof Friday.

Spokesman Jim Shuler said the last juvenile came down Saturday afternoon at the Sumter Youth Development Campus in Americus. Shuler said he had no reports of injuries or property damage.

The department said someone snatched keys from a guard Friday, but denies reports that a guard was overpowered or briefly held hostage. Residents were unable to escape the razor wire-ringed facility.

Commissioner Avery Niles said the department will investigate what happened, determine who’s responsible, and decide on disciplinary or criminal actions.

Police including a Georgia State Patrol helicopter responded Friday, when the facility was briefly on lockdown.

Shuler said juvenile courts statewide assign residents to Sumter.