A 16-year-old boy who was being held at Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie for treatment for a past child sex crime conviction escaped briefly Thursday evening, March 6.

The boy was found five hours later, soaking wet and attempting to hitch a ride from a stranger near State Route 18 not far from Interstate 90.

The teen, who was described as wearing a red shirt with white sleeves and jeans, was supposed to be returning to his cottage, but ran into the woods surrounding Echo Glen, located a short distance from the highway interchange at 33010 S.E. 99th St., Snoqualmie.

The Washington State Patrol, Snoqualmie and Issaquah Police and the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to the escape, which was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Staff at the children’s center noticed the boy was gone within ten minutes, Echo Glen Superintendent Don Mead said.

“We set up a pretty tight perimeter,” said WSP spokesman Jeff Merrill. Echo Glen staff and sheriffs’ deputies found the boy around 11 p.m.

He is back in custody and receiving treatment.

“We are intending to file escape charges,” Mead said. “Chances are, he’ll be spending more time than he expected with us.”

Mead and Merrill said that escapes are rare from the Snoqualmie facility.