UPDATE, 5/18/23, 9:45 p.m.: State Police has confirmed that the second juvenile has been apprehended. They were apprehended shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday evening.

UPDATE, 5/18/23, noon: The Office of Juvenile Justice has announced that one of the two youths has been apprehended.

The 17-year-old from Calcasieu Parish was arrested at 1:40 a.m. this morning by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office, authorities said. The youth has been turned over to Louisiana State Police and charged with simple escape.

ORIGINAL STORY: ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (KLFY) — Two juveniles have escaped from the Acadiana Center for Youth (ACYSM), located in St. Martinville.

The Command Center at ACYSM is gathering, tracking, and distributing information to assist in their apprehension.

The 16 and 17-year-olds are both from Calcasieu Parish. The two juveniles escaped from the facility around 12:40 this afternoon. The search for them is still currently underway.

News 10 spoke with residents about their concerns.

“Its now seven and they haven’t been caught? That’s crazy. They looking for them and I hope they catch them, but I’m worried about the elderly. They can run up in their houses. That’s my only fear,” one resident said.

Residents across St. Martinville, tell us the escapes do make them slightly nervous.

“On the way home there was like 10 cop cars, so of course I became alarmed,” Darnelle Boudreaux said.

People who live near the detention center are on extra alert.

“I received a call from my brother about prisoners on the loose and its about a mile from my house by cypress fabrication. He was just giving me a warning they could be in our neighborhood,” Boudreaux said. “Of course I’m going to be on guard. I’m going to have to check around my house. We are very close to the juvenile center so I’m definitely going to check everything. Definitely an eye opener.”

Regardless, Boudreaux said she has faith law enforcement will catch the juveniles soon.

“We have a great sheriff, and I think he won’t sleep until finds the juveniles and I hope for the best for everyone on cypress island,” Boudreaux said.