MASON CITY – A young man escaped from Francis Lauer Youth Services in Mason City on April 5th and proceeded to wreak havoc on several nearby businesses.
According to police, Quenten William Schweer, 17, had been admitted to Francis Lauer Youth Services (FLYS) and escaped the facility on April 5th at around 5 PM after he allegedly assaulted someone there.
After fleeing FLYS, police said that Schweer ran to Country Inn and Suites, 4082 4th Street SW, where he allegedly stole a lighter and cigarettes from a car in the lot. “He (then) crossed Highway 122 and caused problems at Tony’s Nail Salon, Murphy USA, Wal-Mart, and Lyons Toyota Dodge,” police elaborated.
Inside Wal-Mart, Schweer “was allegedly throwing lit cigarettes around at merchandise, drinking beer from the shelves / cooler, and acting erratic / impaired. After consuming some beer and being chased from the store, he allegedly attempted to enter a couple unlocked cars and possibly was attempting to find keys to start a car.”
After running from Wal-Mart, Schweer was not done.
“At Murphy USA, he allegedly upset or opened a bottle of windshield fluid and then tried to ignite the (liquid). He crossed Eisenhower into Lyons Toyota Dodge car lot where a Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s deputy confronted Schweer. Schweer ran from the deputy back across Eisenhower to Tony’s Nail Salon parking lot where he was apprehended by the deputy.”
Schweer, who is from Lawler, Iowa, was arrested in the parking lot at Tony’s Nail & Salon and charged with: possession of alcohol under the legal age; disorderly conduct; consumption of alcohol under the legal age; criminal mischief in the 4th and 5th degree; fifth degree theft; and two counts of third degree burglary.
Juvenile Court Services was contacted and Schweer was transported to a “more secure facility” police said Wednesday.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
FLYS is a treatment program, not a lock down facility for criminals. We need to understand basic mental health concepts before we attack and judge. There but by the Grace of God go each and every one of us. Just read FLYS mission and values statement:
http://www.francislauer.com/
@Arms Bears-I saw nothing in the link to back up what was said by you or Anonymous that pertains to the article. The police said he “ESCAPED”. That has to mean he was restrained in some way. I know some young people who were at FLYS for shoplifting and they were restrained for a period. You can call it what you want but plane and simple, they take troubled kids there to try to rehabilitate them. It is the first step before jail time. They are not GOOD kids or they wouldn’t be there. A sign of the times.
Restrained as in restraining order. Not physically.
No, the problem is thinking that every youth who experiments with beer or pot is in need of in house treatment. That is our problem, our sickness.
@seriously-that’s how they make their MONEY.
WHAT KIND OF BEER DOES HE DRINK?
From some of the comments on here everyone must have lead a clean wholesome life. Maybe that is just what this kid hasn’t had in his life growing up. Maybe he should be like the rest of you sitting in your homes on the computer all day tearing into and bashing other peoples lives to try to build self esteem. It really must work for you guys.
This kid needs a whooping, plain and simple.
@Anonymous-well it works pretty well for ME.
So what I get is he is practicing his future Beje Clark escape.
“Young man escapes FLYS and goes berzerk ” FLYS is not a “lock down” facility so he could leave anytime he wanted. Kind of a sensational headline that has no basis in the truth.
@Reggie-I think you are out of line with this one. It says “according to police” he escaped. You should read before you post. Some of the kids are taken there instead of taking them to jail. It is the same as going to jail except it is minimum security. That means they are incarcerated until released. So, if he left without permission, he escaped.
Again LVS shows he is perhaps the smartest and most articulate blogger on NIT. The glob writes stories at a 3rd grade level so people like Reggie can understand… maybe he should head that way.
LVS ,I did miss “according to police” but they are NEVER incarcerated. They are always free to leave at anytime.
FLYS is not a secure facility or a place of detentions. The police may have taken him there but he cannot escape because of the nature of the facility. He next placement may be a facility from which he can “escape”. It is more likely the young person is mentally ill and needs more help than he has been given.
He sounds like he is the salt of the earth, just the type of kid we can be proud of. I bet we hear more about him in the years to come. Probably just misunderstood.
Now here is an opportunity for someone to do something for this young man. It would be interesting to know just what happens next.
Good for him.