NEW LONDON — Two recent enrollees at the Tarheel Challenge Academy in New London were arrested Tuesday after they ran away from the facility that works with at-risk youth. Kevin Terrell Garnett, 18, and Adrei Jeremiah Kloehn, 17, were charged with several crimes, including breaking and entering and first degree burglary according to law enforcement reports
Academy Director Lt. Col. (Ret.) Maury Williams confirmed to the Stanly County Journal that the two fled the campus at 9:50 pm Monday night and were brought back to campus around 9:15 am Tuesday by Stanly County Sheriff’s deputies.
Academy Deputy Director Ronnie McNeill said incidents of students leaving campus without authorization “a rare occurrence.”
Lt. Col. Williams said the two had just enrolled in the academy Saturday and that the first few weeks away from home can be hard for new enrollees. “This is a tough time for new students,” said Williams. “They are homesick.”
Williams said the two fled on foot and that staff members at the academy gave chase before Garnett and Kloehn eluded them. After about a 10-minute search on Monday night, the academy called law enforcement.
Adrei Jeremiah Kloehn is charged with First Degree Burglary (F), two counts of Breaking and or Entering (F), Attempted Felony Larceny (F), two counts of Larceny After Breaking or entering (F) and two counts of Injury To Real Property (M).