SAND SPRINGS — A juvenile resident of the Tulsa Boys' Home was taken into custody after leading police on a vehicle chase Thursday night, prompting an internal investigation and renewed security measures at the Sand Springs residential treatment facility.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, troopers were asked to assist the Sand Springs Police Department around 8:30 p.m. Jan. 1 after a juvenile male took a staff member’s keys and left the Tulsa Boys’ Home campus in the staff member’s vehicle.
Police located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield. A trooper joined the pursuit on U.S. 412 near 65th West Avenue. OHP said a tactical vehicle intervention was attempted near the Gilcrease Expressway, but the driver recovered and continued before losing control and striking a concrete wall near the northwest corner of the Inner Dispersal Loop.
The juvenile was taken into custody without incident. Troopers said he was not injured but was transported to a hospital as a precaution before being taken to the Community Intervention Center, where he was held pending charges.
Tulsa Boys’ Home Executive Director Carl Hilliard said staff contacted law enforcement immediately after realizing the juvenile was missing.
“If it had not been for the communications between us and the local authorities and getting that word out to them, the situation could’ve been a lot worse,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard said the facility has launched a full internal review to determine whether any policies or procedures were violated.
“I cannot state who was at fault, but when the investigation is over, we will understand who is at fault and the appropriate consequences will be given,” he said, adding that swift action will be taken if wrongdoing is found.
In the wake of the incident, Hilliard said the Tulsa Boys’ Home is accelerating safety improvements. Those steps include hiring eight additional staff members to expand the security department, upgrading security cameras, and continuing a board-approved, three-phase security initiative.
The first phase, installation of a perimeter fence, has been completed, Hilliard said, to help keep residents safe and prevent unauthorized access to campus. Planned additions include a visitor screening system and a new welcome center within the next 90 days, along with wage increases and the creation of a dedicated security department.
Hilliard emphasized the Tulsa Boys’ Home is not a prison and said the measures are intended to reassure both the community and families.
“There is a board and staff members that are working to make these young men whole and heal them,” he said. “We will grow from this and we will learn from this.”
A timeline for completing the internal investigation was not provided, though Hilliard said changes to improve safety are already underway.