*A 19-year-old man (Josef Toney) who escaped from the Youth Detention Center in Albuquerque is back in custody after turning himself in early Sunday morning. Toney, who was awaiting sentencing for a double murder, surrendered to the detention center at around 1 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
Toney’s escape occurred on Saturday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. According to the criminal complaint, Toney managed to unlock the gate in the patio area and flee the facility. The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) was alerted to the escape through a 911 call made just before 5 p.m., which was routed to APD dispatch because of the detention center’s location. The call was initially classified as a missing person report, rather than an escape, and APD did not physically respond to the center.
“One of the problems that we are seeing right away is protocol within staff. That is too long of a delay for us to make sure that we can get somebody back in custody who is a danger to the community,” stated Sheriff John Allen who expressed concerns over the communication and response delay.
Toney was in the detention center due to his involvement in the murders of Ariel Mallam and Jessica Lucero on January 27, 2021. In April, he reached a plea deal for charges including double murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, abandonment or abuse of a child, and tampering with evidence. He was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on June 26, KOAT-TV reports.
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