Jul 2, 2008

Highlands residents meet with county on escape

San Mateo to take input on youth lockup center

By Shaun Bishop / Daily News Staff Writer

Residents in the unincorporated San Mateo Highlands area tonight will get a chance to air their concerns about a murder suspect's escape from the juvenile detention center in their neighborhood.

Supervisors Adrienne Tissier and Mark Church will join officials from the probation department, sheriff's office, county manager's office and the courts to discuss the Valentine's Day escape of 17-year-old Josue Raul Orozco from the Youth Services Center.

Many Highlands residents were furious after the breakout, in which Orozco was boosted over a recreation yard wall by two fellow juvenile offenders. More than four months later, Orozco is still on the lam.

A draft of an independent report on the incident released last month found that one employee who was supposed to be watching the teens had his back to the recreation yard while another employee was taking an unauthorized break.

The report recommended physical improvements such as extra fences, cameras and sensors, along with a bigger staff and more thorough training.

Cary Wiest, president of the San Mateo Highlands Community Association, said he believes tonight's public comments will be incorporated into a final report, and he encouraged residents even from outside the Highlands to come if they are concerned about the escape.

"I hope community members are able to put some more input into the investigation process," Wiest said Tuesday.

Residents said the county promised them no one accused of serious crimes would be held at the $150 million facility, completed in 2006.

Highlands residents also plan to bring up the county's search for a new jail site and make it clear any thought of building the facility in their neighborhood will provoke strong opposition.

"On top of the escape," Wiest said, "it's like adding Tabasco to a cut."

A report released in January noted there is a large area of county-owned land in the Highlands, but cites community opposition and greater travel distance to court hearings in Redwood City as potential drawbacks to building the jail there.

The meeting will be held at 7 tonight in the gym at the Highlands Recreation Facility, 1851 Lexington Ave., San Mateo. It is open to the public.



E-mail Shaun Bishop at

sbishop@dailynewsgroup.com.