FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – A 12-year-old escaped a Florence behavioral health center, a police report said.

On Saturday, the 12-year-old escaped from Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health in Florence during visitation hours, according to the report. Police say they received the first call about the incident around 1:30 p.m. and by about 1:37 p.m., officers were at the location, where the child had been found.

Officers then contacted the child’s aunt, who the report says is the child’s legal guardian. She reportedly instructed officers to take the child back.

The child’s grandmother reportedly said she has been trying to get custody of the child and that the child has been in and out of the facility for the last five years, according to the report.

In March, News13 reported that the Department of Health and Environmental Control had started enforcement action against Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Heath as it alleged abuse and several policy violations.

News 13 tried talking to treatment center staff, but CEO Daniel Eichelberger had not had time to talk about the violations. Instead we received an email saying, in part: 

“Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health is committed to providing high quality treatment and care for individuals with special, and often complex, mental health needs. We hold our staff accountable and have high expectation for staff interaction with patients, with their peers and in support of our local community.”

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